Page 1 is located at -
http://www.geocities.com/mogiljan/SustainableFuture.html
Feb.27, 2005
I am pleased to present, with some reservations, the recently approved Australian Solar Chimney (other search terms: Solar Tower, Solar Flue). The official webpages are here -
http://www.solarmissiontechnologies.com/EnviroMission.htm
for a "quick study", use this unofficial website - http://www.visionengineer.com/env/solar_flue.shtml
article with many links, incl. photos of the Spanish prototype -
http://alt-e.blogspot.com/2005/02/site-agreed-for-australian-solar-tower.html
Other Recent Developments and Study Papers:
Sahara-derived Wind Power:
http://www.saharawind.com/dedicatedpapers.php
Sahara-based Solar Power :
Connecting the energy consumers of Europe to the solar energy of the Great Sahara of North Africa using hydrogen as the solar energy carrier
http://www.waterstof.org/20030725EHECO5-54.pdf
4th International Conference on Solar Power from Space � SPS�04, 30 June - 2 July 2004, Granada, Spain
COMPARISON OF SOLAR TERRESTRIAL AND SPACE POWER GENERATION FOR EUROPE
http://www.f1.fhtw-berlin.de/studiengang/ut/publis/2004/SPS04.pdf
Historical Background (written Mar. 2000)
Can the USA seize the day? To be rid of the domineering influence of the oil lobby on its economy, to show the world's other insatiable consumers of this non-renewable resource that they will be left far behind? The peace dividend attained by waging the Cold War (on the home front by an all-out expansion of the oil-based economy in the 1950's*) is the basis for developing a non-oil based economy. For instance, by insulating commercial and multi-residential buildings, the US could reduce its present oil imports to nil.
By taking bold initiatives such as these, the US would regain its economic independence. There would also be less need for so-called strategic materials (rare metals, catalytic agents, etc.) deemed vital for an oil-based society and often available only overseas. Existing stocks of these non-renewable resources could be saved for a 'rainy day' or allotted to R & D at lesser cost.
Chinese oil production peaked in 2000 and Russian oil production in 2002 exceeded that of Saudi Arabia. Aren't these benchmarks merely indicators of how far consuming countries have fallen behind? Canada's reserves (in the Alberta Tar Sands) are said to exceed those of the Saudis'. But the true economic purpose of bringing oil to market is to manufacture oil-derived products that we cannot otherwise produce (e.g. space age and consumer plastics such as insulating materials, medical bandages, etc.).
In the USA, a highly guarded patent has been applied for many years to recycle virtually all materials found in scrap vehicles. This is an example of an existing process that could be shared with many countries. The Americans have recently referred disparagingly to "Old Europe". Instead, they could regain the higher ground by rebuilding their economic infrastructure (a process the Europeans have already begun).
By creating a more sustainable lifestyle, a more stable social order should result. For example, a less mobile lifestyle would allow for greater respect of both our environment and our immediate neighbours.
*The idea was that a mobile, mechanized society would be dispersed over a large number of urban centres and thus be more able to withstand a nuclear attack.
About the Links Below:
An attempt to present existing and proposed alternatives to current economic strategies; if you read Page 1, it should be evident why alternatives should be sought sooner rather than later.
Your thoughts are welcome. If you wish to share your ideas with a broader audience, consider joining a yahoo group that deals with these issues:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/energyresources (emphasis on Peak Oil and its consequences)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wastewatts (inventors' corner)
Links to other sites on the Web
Renewable Energy Blogsite
Canadian Wind Energy Data; en Fran�ais aussi
Perennializing Grain & Other Crops
Basic Science of the Solar Chimney
In-Depth Analysis of Oil Depletion
Portal for Peak Oil Activists
© 2000 [email protected]