Solar power sats without colonies...

> My preferred renewable choice would be high altitude wind turbines
that are tethered to the ground.

I have imagined that something like that would be used for dual-
purpose climate modification and energy generation. When you put
drag on the wind, you increase the heat flux. Surface winds were
going to dissipate the energy anyway, but it sounds to me as though
varying the location and settings of your high-altitude wind
turbines might have a lot of leverage on affecting climate. I
imagine balloon support, because I want to be able to have lower
drag when the climate simulations call for it and because I want to
have the option of putting the turbines higher.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Matt Gallimore
wrote:
>
> Both you and Ian make good points. He is correct that solar is
not very optimal in parts of the UK. Islands can get a fair amount
of wind as you point out.
>
> My preferred renewable choice would be high altitude wind turbines
that are tethered to the ground.
>
> Ground based wind power suffers from unpredictability. Until we
develop an efficient, practical and large electrical storage method,
wind power cannot be a large part of a given power grind due to risk
of destabilizing the grid.
>
> At high altitudes (5 to 10 km) the winds are more regular.
Electrical generation from there should be more reliable and much
higher kW than ground.
>
> Though not built yet, my favorate design is one that looks like a
helicopter with several turbines with vanes. Deployment requires
feeding electricity to the unit, using turbines as motors to
generate lift. Once in position the wind keeps it aloft, like a
kite. For routine maintanence bring it back down to the ground,
using turbines as motors for controlled touchdowns.
>
> wlm_efn wrote:
> Ian Woollard wrote:
> > Yes, but for example, I live in the UK; which is a *long* way
north
> > (rather *further* than Ottawa in Canada). During summertime solar
> > might work.
> >
> > But during the winter; it rains. And rains. And rains and rains.
And
> > it's dark; with 100% cloudcover for much of the time. Ground-
level
> > solar doesn't really work at all. You simply can't store the
heat for
> > months at a time.
> >
> > Whereas SPS would work 24x365.25.
>
> Yes but the UK has a whole bunch of something else that provides
> energy: wind. On Earth the further north in latitude you are, the
> greater are the average winds are with which to tap energy. They
> pretty much compliment each other.
>
> (Ground-based) solar energy by itself won't do, but a
*combination* of
> solar and wind energy can, IMO.
>
Service.