Green energy :D

[Toddy]

Just read this article in the news....oh, I like this

We don't always have enough sunshine, but often there's enough wind

The Scottish inventor ‘drilling the sky' for energy

Engineer Rod Read has spent the past decade building homemade spinning kite turbines that can generate clean electricity.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[TLM]

I guess in the west of Scotland that works up to a point. Here when the energy need is greatest we have -30C outside and no sun and no wind. One really has to be totally uneducated, dumb and green to be for these "renewables" in those conditions.

 

[Toddy]

Right now some of my washing is back in the machine because the wind tore it off the line.....we have wind and rain, but sunshine, just not a lot, and most definitely not a lot in Winter....but we do have wind even at night we have wind.
And tides, regular as clockwork tides surging in and out; we need to do more with all that we have I think.

 

[Woody girl]

I rather like that idea. So cheap and easy. I'd have one if I had a suitable area, but I don't, so sadly, it's not for me here.
Years ago, (1990s) I remember someone at Glastonbury music festival had a small sail windmill to provide his electric. It worked well.

 

[Megatramp]

And when the wind drops, does it all come crashing down? Another April 1st article maybe?

 

[Toddy]

And when the wind drops, does it all come crashing down? Another April 1st article maybe?

It's a kite, well tethered ring of kites. They weigh almost nothing (I make kites) and yet they have an enormous lift. It's acting like a dynamo, and even a small trickle charge is a charge, especially on modern electronics. Phones, LED lights, that kind of thing...all done for something just whirling in the wind.
Good stuff

 

[Megatramp]

I see that but when the wind drops the kite will fall so when you get home from work you're faced with a tangled mess from it flapping around all day and no power! In the clips I've seen he's stood flying the kite, not something I'd want to do for hours on end every day come rain or shine. The commercial version is planned to be autonomous and I hope he succeeds.

 

[Toddy]

I see that but when the wind drops the kite will fall so when you get home from work you're faced with a tangled mess from it flapping around all day and no power! In the clips I've seen he's stood flying the kite, not something I'd want to do for hours on end every day come rain or shine. The commercial version is planned to be autonomous and I hope he succeeds.

It's very do-able to tether the upper end and just have the whole thing on spinners.
Loose like he has is great for demos or for a quick set up.....besides if you use modern carbon fibre that's curled, it'll just fold down without tangle anyway.

I know, I look for solutions not problems

 

[Stew]

I see that but when the wind drops the kite will fall so when you get home from work you're faced with a tangled mess from it flapping around all day and no power! In the clips I've seen he's stood flying the kite, not something I'd want to do for hours on end every day come rain or shine. The commercial version is planned to be autonomous and I hope he succeeds.

There are a few of his setups that have it tethered at the top. The second clip and the very last one have it. Maybe others.

 

[Megatramp]

You both mention tethers, what is it tethered to?

 

[Stew]

You both mention tethers, what is it tethered to?

A big pole….

It’s worth bearing in mind that he does use the word prototype. I don’t think he has suggested that he’s at a final solution yet.

 

[Pattree]

I’ve seen advertising box kites tethered to pylons. They stay up all day.

 

[Megatramp]

Ah so now there's a pole involved. So how does that differ from current wind turbines? Not to mention it's now tethered at both ends so cannot track the wind! His website says Shell are involved and plans to launch commercially this year!

Have you seen the Archimedes wind turbines? Seem like a neater solution to me.

 

[Pattree]

Let’s wait and see.
I like the rapid deployment aspect.

 

[Stew]

Ah so now there's a pole involved. So how does that differ from current wind turbines? Not to mention it's now tethered at both ends so cannot track the wind! His website says Shell are involved and plans to launch commercially this year!

Have you seen the Archimedes wind turbines? Seem like a neater solution to me.

I’ve seen a variety of suggestions. I assume you’ve seen Robert Murray-Smiths stuff?

All sorts of ideas there. The small wheat type is interesting as well as various turbines, etc.

I’ve actually got an ugrinsky turbine printed and in the garage to play with.

 

[Megatramp]

Never heard of him, I'll have a look.

Anything I can put together from scrap and easily maintain has my vote.

Whilst I do believe harnessing wind power is definitely the way to go I don't foresee everyone having their own system so ultimately the majority will still depend on the grid, regardless of where it comes from. The key to making it work is not in finding more but using less.

 

[Stew]

Never heard of him, I'll have a look.

Anything I can put together from scrap and easily maintain has my vote.

Whilst I do believe harnessing wind power is definitely the way to go I don't foresee everyone having their own system so ultimately the majority will still depend on the grid, regardless of where it comes from. The key to making it work is not in finding more but using less.

I think multipronged thinking is needed and stuff like Robert is doing is really interesting to me as some of the ideas are just so different.

He’s here:

Robert Murray-Smith

Oddly enough the channel is about empowerment. It is my belief that with creativity, experimentation and a get up and go attitude anything can be achieved. Link that with the use of local resources and a reduced need for expensive tools and equipment then you have empowerment and the ability to...

youtube.com

Lots to get into but a few different things….

 

[Megatramp]

Thanks for that, you've now cost me time and electricity!

I like the look of that airloom model, not sure his version could be scaled up though but I'd like to see it done!


Look mom, I'm saving energy!!

 

[Kadushu]

It's easy to get lost in the "wow that looks clever" and lose track of the bottom line, ie what's the cost of the energy it generates across its lifespan?

 

[Stew]

It's easy to get lost in the "wow that looks clever" and lose track of the bottom line, ie what's the cost of the energy it generates across its lifespan?

Absolutely. If you look at that video of the wheat grass generator I posted above then he talks about needing to get production cost lower.