OUT OF OIL

Sometimes all it takes is one person with a vision, an idea and last but not least a good deal of stubborness and initiative. Down Under this man could be Roger Davey, Executive Chairman of Enviro Mission ltd and his dream, his passion or better, his obsession is the Solar Tower Project. Australia is known for it’s sunny climate, however this energy potential is not yet taken advantage of at a large scale on the continent. If this project will prove to be a success, this might change in the near future.

The first tower (the plan is to add four more later on) will appear south of Sidney at Buronga, in the Wentworth Shire of New South Wales. This area is chosen because of low land-prices and lots of sunshine - Buronga is nicknamed Sunraysia for over 300 sunny days are counted each year. Originally the tower would point 1000 meters into the air. The latest plans however speak of a height of 600 meter, still quite a stalk. The technique is actually quite simple; the air is heated under an extensive collection zone made of glass panels. Hot air rises, in this case seeking it’s way out through the chimney, thus powering the turbines. Each tower should generate about 200 megawatt, enough for roughly 200.000 households. Discovery Channel made this item about it.