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Gigantic solar balloons soak up the rays
You're looking at a pretty amazing idea for generating solar power: Solar Balloons. These gigantic, helium-filled balloons would be tethered to the ground and hoisted far up into the air, allowing them to generated electricity and send it back down to earth without taking up space and with as small an environmental impact as possible.
Constructed of a "new fabric coated with photovoltaic solar cells," these light-as-air balloons would float high in the air, soaking up more sun than traditional solar panels while being more eco-friendly all around. Not to mention the fact that they look pretty awesome. Let's make these things a reality, shall we?
Via Inhabitat
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By Mulder at 6:39 PM ON 04/10/08
sure, and next time someone sees a ufo, the government will blame it on one of these babies getting loose. They already look like flying saucers. The truth is out there people!!!
but seriously, pretty sweet idea.
By Traveler at 11:54 AM ON 04/11/08
Helium is becomeing a scarce commodity.
By GT at 5:35 PM ON 04/11/08
Helium is just as "scarce" as oil. As a side note somewhere in the vacinity of only 1/3 of an oil deposit can actully be harvested economically efficiently right now.
Also helium filled structures have come along way in the fact that we use much less helium then used to be used (that means its not all helium in those balloons).
By Tio Max at 9:12 AM ON 05/02/08
I shudder to think what would happen if planes should entangle themselves in the tether or if strong winds should rip them loose. Does the improved light level compensate for all the risks of altitude?