If you search 'solar tower' on youtube, you will see all kinds of videos of existing installations of things that are similar, albeit most are not as tall, nor

If you search 'solar tower' on youtube, you will see all kinds of videos of existing installations of things that are similar, albeit most are not as tall, nor are they flexible. But the basic concept appears to be the same. Quite a few of them are from many years ago. So it would seem the idea works to some extent, and perhaps the the idea of a much taller, and flexible variant is the crucial difference that will make a big difference.