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Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

Posted March 26, 2014 2:26 PM

From Discovery News:

Altaeros Energies is launching a high-altitude floating wind turbine south of Fairbanks to bring affordable power to a remote community.

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Guru

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
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#1

Re: Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

03/26/2014 11:23 PM

$1.3 million on a 30KW mechanically hungry balloon that needs to be topped off with helium, maintained, and reeled in for storms.

How do you sell the electricity for .18 per kwh?

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Guru

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

03/27/2014 2:50 AM

I think I overheard someone say, 'We lose a few cents on each kwh sold....but we make it up in volume!"

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Power-User

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Brampton, ON, Canada
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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

03/27/2014 7:11 AM

If the alternative is trucking in diesel fuel on ice roads, $0.18 per kWh sounds like a bargain.

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Guru

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#4

Re: Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

03/27/2014 10:11 AM

No..This is a bargain.39KW only $59,995.00. completely refurbished! buy it now. (free pick up in MN)
You could get over a 100KW worth of solar arrays, batteries, personal wind turbines and still have over a million left with no need to distribute power.
It's a very temporary solution at best.. And by best I mean for the gee wiz cool factor which doesn't account for much, but it's only $60 per Watt.

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Power-User

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Inflatable Wind Turbine to Float on Alaskan Skies

03/27/2014 11:55 AM

Good Answer!

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