Interesting RL windmills colonists might like

[sabredog]

These look like they have potential for colony power. Not too complicated, efficient, and nifty looking.

http://news.discovery.com/tech/wind-power-without-the-blades.html

The lower areas could collect rain water off the slopes for the colony, or use the areas for hydroponics. The power generators might even be used for self-contained farming modules, a stalk or two might be part of a well pumping station, etc.

 

[HG_B]

Interesting but, cheaper to use fusion power.

 

[Spinward Scout]

Nice idea. I wonder how many you could fit on the top of a building and if it would make much of a difference.

 

[sabredog]

Interesting but, cheaper to use fusion power.

Perhaps if you postulate reallllly cheap fusion power, but these don't need to be refueled, nor do they require a lot of maintenance by skilled personnel. Stalks could be modular, self-contained, and considered disposable. The stalk could be self-deployed as part of a remote sensor array and work more or less indefinitely.

And they look cool.

 

[HG_B]

Perhaps if you postulate reallllly cheap fusion power, but these don't need to be refueled, nor do they require a lot of maintenance by skilled personnel.

Too expensive for base load generation.

Here's what ya need: http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/product.html

 

[aramis]

Too expensive for base load generation.

Here's what ya need: http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/product.html

At present, yes. Not, perhaps, down the road, especially if Fusion never makes break-even.

 

[HG_B]

At present, yes. Not, perhaps, down the road, especially if Fusion never makes break-even.

NOT having fusion won't make wind a viable base load tech. Fission is still MUCH cheaper. With the advent of Thorium reactors it will get even cheaper for fission.

 

[sabredog]

You seem to be discounting or ignoring improvements in the efficiency of wind-generated power in a role-playing scifi game. Nothing to say that on a world with constant winds, open areas for stalk installation, and high efficiency technology for energy transfer these stalks wouldn't pencil out. The current problems with wind power are related more to how much area they need to have enough generators to make any real power, and the inefficiency of power generation to date.

Of course, maybe Iron Man will save us all with his mini-reactor...

 

[HG_B]

The current problems with wind power are related more to how much area they need to have enough generators to make any real power, and the inefficiency of power generation to date.

Nope. It is that it isn't base load generation.

 

[aramis]

Nope. It is that it isn't base load generation.

Wind has been used for base load in some small scale implementations. There are certain areas where wind is fairly steady, and coupled with batteries, provides the power for the base load, albeit not at 100% of base load all the time, but in those implementations, it provides more than base load most of the time it's operating, and batteries are used to store excess for the lulls.

 

[HG_B]

Wind has been used for base load in some small scale implementations. There are certain areas where wind is fairly steady, and coupled with batteries, provides the power for the base load, albeit not at 100% of base load all the time, but in those implementations, it provides more than base load most of the time it's operating, and batteries are used to store excess for the lulls.

Yes, I know. You also cited the reason it isn't as efficient cost wise as major base load systems.