Search giant Google is funding Magenn Power, a Canadian company building GIANT POWER PLANT KITES BLIMPS. The tethered balloons have "riverboat blades," which make the whole contraption spin in the sky from the force of the fast-moving, high-altitude wind, which generates electricity with power-generating turbines. I want one.
9:03 AM * PERMALINK * 4 comments
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Comments:
I'm afraid you have mixed up Magenn Power with Makani Power.
Magenn uses blimps.
Makani uses kites.
Makani is the one in which Google has invested (back in 2006)o
Right you are. I've fixed it. Thank you!
Mike
This looks like a terrific idea. However I hope they build safe guards into it, like, what if the winds stop, something that big falling out of the sky can kill a lot of people. And if one of the teethers snaps, and the thing plummets to the ground, I don't want it crashing into anybody's home. Does anybody know what kind of safeguards it will have built it, or the scientists behind this are thinking about?
Just like wind turbines, these likely won't be used when the wind speed goes over a certain limit.
Watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSB1SdVHqQ
The blimp will end up being on retractable tethers so it can be reeled in and out as needed to stay in the right airflow.
I think I saw this on Discovery once. Or read about it in Scientific American.
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