Cute concept: blimp-based wind power.

Not the first time something in the vein has been proposed, but I thought this one
looked interesting as it is a dirigible, not a kite.



http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/productstory?id=40993

Of course, it's just a concept at this point, and who knows if the company is competant/on the level.

They claim they'll be bringing a 4kw unit to market for $10k deliverable next fall. I guess how they reconcile this with their claim that it is cheaper than tower-based turbines is their claimed 40 to 50% capacity loading factor, due to low spinup speed and access to larger winds up higher where tower construction is more expensive. Rendering of their claimed 4kw unit:



Link to manufacturer's page:

http://www.magenn.com/technology.php

I doubt it will kill birds. I guess the question is more: will birds kill it? :-)

If there were enough of those, they would be hazardous to general aviation, or, like some areas around here designated for military use, they would be deadly to low-flying high speed F-16s.

I'd be pretty pissed off if an F16 or any other aircraft for that matter buzzed my house at 400feet. I'm sure the larger 900 - 1000 altitude units would be in the same class as large turbines when it comes to planning and safety concerns. The 1kw unit that would follow the 4kw would be restricted to 150 feet.

personally witnessed them at LESS than 400 feet around the farms in Clark County Wisconsin....

150 feet doesn't seem so bad.....it could work....

I'd think it might be quite a lot - you need the generator as well as the turbine up there. So the question is then: how much helium is needed - and how quickly does it escape, and need replacing? What, then, would be the world demand for helium if these became popular, and could it be met? (I think helium largely comes as a by-product of natural gas wells now, doesn't it - it gets trapped after emission as alpha particles from radioactive rocks. Do we think we have a decent supply of helium for the future?)

...on the product page of the above site. Gives physical size, operating height, projected release date, and target price for each size they are looking to produce.

http://www.magenn.com/products.php

How often they have to be pulled in for gas recharge would be a nice detail to have, indeed.

...if their new distributer comes through on their market PR hype:

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/market/business/viewstory?id=41478