[modeleng] Re: Electrical Problem

In the southwestern part of "the big island" in Hawaii, near the usually active 
volcano field, there is/was an abandoned windmill farm.  The towers are mostly 
in place, the big propellers may be missing none, one, or several blades, the 
buildings are nothing but foundations and windowless hulks.  Never learned why 
it was abandoned.  From a wind flow standpoint, it was a good location, but 
maybe enroaching volcanos did it in.  Or maybe the tax subsidies ended and with 
them the reason for its existance.  It seemed a long way from any significant 
electricity users.  
I've wondered from time to time whether active or abandoned ocean oil drilling 
platforms, or purpose made equivalents, would make sense for a hydrogen-based 
transportation system.  Equip the towers with windmill generators and/or solar 
generators of some sort, use the electricity to extract and compress or liquify 
hydrogen from the ocean, and pick the hydrogen up with tankers along the lines 
of today's LNG carriers.

Charles

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> There is/was a solar array out in the west of the USA. Tall tower 
> surrounded on three sides by mirrors which swiveled to keep the sun focused 
> on a vertical boiler at the top of the tower. As with windmills which don't 
> work when the wind stops, the solar array doesn't work when it is cloudy. 
> It is located in an area which is pretty cloud free, but I don't remember 
> what state it is located in. 
> 
> Jesse in Tennessee USA 
> 
> > We are getting very chatty and OT here folks. Hope our list server doesn't 
> > cut the whole list off. 
> > 
> > The steam car thread on the other hand is very interesting. 
> > 
> > Re generating electricity for hydrogen electrolysis - I believe the French 
> > tried a large solar mirror array focusing on a tank type steam generator, 
> > which drove turbines in the usual way. The power output was several MW if 
> > I'm not mistaken from a 1 acre mirror array. This may be viable for sunny 
> > areas and less expensive than photovoltaic cells and windmills. 
> > 
> > Cheers, Jeff Dayman Waterloo Ontario Canada 

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