3 ms·

he didn't post a single link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power http://

he didn't post a single link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power The "atmosphere tower" might be the convection "energy tower": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_tower_%28downdraft%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_tower_%28downdraft%29

ash 18y ago
Or "solar updraft tower": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower
streety 18y ago
Playing around with some figures sourced from wikipedia and assuming best case scenario meeting the demand for oil would require an area the size of Germany be turned over to algae oil production. One of the points raised in the post that I didn't quite understand was tidal power being presented (although it isn't explicitly stated) as though it isn't time variable. The last time I checked the tide went in and then out twice a day. You can trap it in a reservoir and then slowly release it but there are going to be periods when it generates no power.
- DabAsteroid 18y ago
  You can trap it in a reservoir and then slowly release it but there are going to be periods when it generates no power. Why not use pumped storage? What is needed is elevation to overcome the head-deficiency inherent to the equilibrium periods. This is achievable by sacrificing some of the stored water, to pump a smaller amount of water to a higher elevation.
  - streety 18y ago
    A valid point. A similar approach can be taken for solar and wind. Use excess energy to pump water into a higher reservoir which can be released during overcast/still periods. The only difference I can see being that with tidal you know exactly when the next burst of energy will come and how large it will be.
  - DaniFong 18y ago
    Pumped storage is quite low capacity and low efficiency for the cost and surface area. 1 kg, that is, 1 liter of water, up 20 meters, is only 200 joules. An apple laptop uses 40 watts: which is that amount every five seconds.
    - dhimes 18y ago
      actually, 2 meters gives you 20 joules...but your point is still valid
      - DaniFong 18y ago
        Whoops. g ~= 10. Always I forget...

ash 18y ago

Or "solar updraft tower": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower

streety 18y ago

Playing around with some figures sourced from wikipedia and assuming best case scenario meeting the demand for oil would require an area the size of Germany be turned over to algae oil production. One of the points raised in the post that I didn't quite understand was tidal power being presented (although it isn't explicitly stated) as though it isn't time variable. The last time I checked the tide went in and then out twice a day. You can trap it in a reservoir and then slowly release it but there are going to be periods when it generates no power.

DabAsteroid 18y ago
You can trap it in a reservoir and then slowly release it but there are going to be periods when it generates no power. Why not use pumped storage? What is needed is elevation to overcome the head-deficiency inherent to the equilibrium periods. This is achievable by sacrificing some of the stored water, to pump a smaller amount of water to a higher elevation.
- streety 18y ago
  A valid point. A similar approach can be taken for solar and wind. Use excess energy to pump water into a higher reservoir which can be released during overcast/still periods. The only difference I can see being that with tidal you know exactly when the next burst of energy will come and how large it will be.
- DaniFong 18y ago
  Pumped storage is quite low capacity and low efficiency for the cost and surface area. 1 kg, that is, 1 liter of water, up 20 meters, is only 200 joules. An apple laptop uses 40 watts: which is that amount every five seconds.
  - dhimes 18y ago
    actually, 2 meters gives you 20 joules...but your point is still valid
    - DaniFong 18y ago
      Whoops. g ~= 10. Always I forget...