Comments on: Artificial Energy Islands Could Power The World http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:29:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: connor1701http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-116719 connor1701 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:06:55 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-116719 I'm not a scientist and i'm not an evironmentalist but to all the detractors can't you see? The potential for this is HUGE! These produce power in a clean way and create enough water to keep every person on the planet alive. Any temperature change will be miniscule, it will not suddenly cause the oceans to boil. Trust the scientists people, they have done thier homework and obviously know what they are doing. As for the environment, any person who is intrested in marine life will know that a stationary structure in the sea becomes a haven for wildlife. The brains will probably include something to keep wildlife out of harm, but seriously, what is more important on this planet? Microscopic photoplankton or human beings? I think the latter personally. This project has such amazing potential it would be a shame for it to be crushed bya few people concerned about fish bumping thier heads on it. Keep up the good work! I’m not a scientist and i’m not an evironmentalist but to all the detractors can’t you see?
The potential for this is HUGE! These produce power in a clean way and create enough water to keep every person on the planet alive. Any temperature change will be miniscule, it will not suddenly cause the oceans to boil. Trust the scientists people, they have done thier homework and obviously know what they are doing. As for the environment, any person who is intrested in marine life will know that a stationary structure in the sea becomes a haven for wildlife. The brains will probably include something to keep wildlife out of harm, but seriously, what is more important on this planet? Microscopic photoplankton or human beings? I think the latter personally.
This project has such amazing potential it would be a shame for it to be crushed bya few people concerned about fish bumping thier heads on it.
Keep up the good work!

]]> By: mathieupardhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-86629 mathieupard Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:09:01 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-86629 Wow.. "Their goal is to build a network of “energy islands”Also get more info on this site:http://green-alternative.info Wow.. “Their goal is to build a network of “energy islands”

Also get more info on this site:http://green-alternative.info

]]> By: voalsehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-81196 voalse Mon, 12 May 2008 22:44:56 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-81196 ok ok

]]> By: Powering the future « Dragonfly Experimenthttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-76331 Powering the future « Dragonfly Experiment Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:20:15 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-76331 [...] What the hell is this you might wonder? Well, it is an artifical engery island. It makes ocean waves a source of renewable energy. Along with wind, and solar energy, all clean energies. No more fossil fuels! Read more? click here. [...] [...] What the hell is this you might wonder? Well, it is an artifical engery island. It makes ocean waves a source of renewable energy. Along with wind, and solar energy, all clean energies. No more fossil fuels! Read more? click here. [...]

]]> By: Mekhong Kurthttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-75426 Mekhong Kurt Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:32:23 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-75426 GREAT idea -- especially the multi-source harnessing of energy. It further could avoid the "not-in-my-backyard" syndrome, especially if an island can be located far enough offshore so as not to be an eyesore for beach residents. (I know practically zilch about the economics of transmitting the harnessed power to destinations.)The past few years sure have been exciting in this field. Germany, with its leadership in harnessing solar power. The Netherlands and Great Britian, with their plans for offshore wind farms. Parts of the U.S. erecting solar-panel and wind-turbine farms. Various methods of capturing excess heat to use for various purposes. On the individual level, neat gadgets such as a hand-rechargeable digital, via rolling a power-generating wheel a few times. Rechargers attached to your knee that work when you walk. Power-generating exercise equipment. Personal wind turgines (which can be held or mounted outside a car window, for instance). Solar backpacks, etc. The list is exploding on all scales.Thanks to the Inhabitat folks for focusing on this stuff. GREAT idea — especially the multi-source harnessing of energy. It further could avoid the “not-in-my-backyard” syndrome, especially if an island can be located far enough offshore so as not to be an eyesore for beach residents. (I know practically zilch about the economics of transmitting the harnessed power to destinations.)

The past few years sure have been exciting in this field. Germany, with its leadership in harnessing solar power. The Netherlands and Great Britian, with their plans for offshore wind farms. Parts of the U.S. erecting solar-panel and wind-turbine farms. Various methods of capturing excess heat to use for various purposes. On the individual level, neat gadgets such as a hand-rechargeable digital, via rolling a power-generating wheel a few times. Rechargers attached to your knee that work when you walk. Power-generating exercise equipment. Personal wind turgines (which can be held or mounted outside a car window, for instance). Solar backpacks, etc. The list is exploding on all scales.

Thanks to the Inhabitat folks for focusing on this stuff.

]]> By: emanuensishttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-74476 emanuensis Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:48:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-74476 The the Guardian & the Telegraphs title of the jpg "where an energy island would work" is actually a misnomer. The notation they make of "Area where OTEC will work" is actually much more accurate as energy islands will work wherever there is wind or solar energy. OTEC may need a largish differential to work but energy islands sure do not. They can work well in high latitudes, indeed Germany now gets a lot of energy from solar.Transporting Amazons full of freshwater to populated areas from these islands would be an impossible nightmare. i suggest instead of making steam rise into the winds whenever meteorological forecasting predicts they would make rainfall over good areas! That way the transport is free and easy. All it takes is (the free) energy to make the steam. At the other times the energy can be transported to populations as electricity, hydrazine, hydrogen, salts, etc etc. A much more feasible and more manageable venture. Though still difficult enough. Or it can be stored until the weather changes and it again is possible to do water transport without wasting it over the seas. If one once got it to land it could be diverted to aquifers, dams, or snowpacks, as it is now.As to the danger that storms may damage Energy Islands, i agree. They need to drastically reduce their sail, or wind loads, at those times. The can do so by either sinking everything beneath the sea for protection, or by reducing the sail on the wind towers. Possibly both. But acres of reflectors are going to be hard to keep viable in winds. If they can be kept viable while sinking into briny sea water then great!Living on one would be fun! It would be like boating. You would have to be prepared for the occasional dunk though;-) The the Guardian & the Telegraphs title of the jpg “where an energy island would work” is actually a misnomer. The notation they make of “Area where OTEC will work” is actually much more accurate as energy islands will work wherever there is wind or solar energy. OTEC may need a largish differential to work but energy islands sure do not. They can work well in high latitudes, indeed Germany now gets a lot of energy from solar.

Transporting Amazons full of freshwater to populated areas from these islands would be an impossible nightmare. i suggest instead of making steam rise into the winds whenever meteorological forecasting predicts they would make rainfall over good areas! That way the transport is free and easy. All it takes is (the free) energy to make the steam. At the other times the energy can be transported to populations as electricity, hydrazine, hydrogen, salts, etc etc. A much more feasible and more manageable venture. Though still difficult enough. Or it can be stored until the weather changes and it again is possible to do water transport without wasting it over the seas. If one once got it to land it could be diverted to aquifers, dams, or snowpacks, as it is now.

As to the danger that storms may damage Energy Islands, i agree. They need to drastically reduce their sail, or wind loads, at those times. The can do so by either sinking everything beneath the sea for protection, or by reducing the sail on the wind towers. Possibly both. But acres of reflectors are going to be hard to keep viable in winds. If they can be kept viable while sinking into briny sea water then great!

Living on one would be fun! It would be like boating. You would have to be prepared for the occasional dunk though;-)

]]> By: cranky merlinhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-74115 cranky merlin Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:00:06 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-74115 can i put a house on one of those things??? that would be so much fun. :-) i'll be the power and light keeper for you. can i put a house on one of those things??? that would be so much fun. :-) i’ll be the power and light keeper for you.

]]> By: Samhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-73878 Sam Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:53:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-73878 So does anyone here know that the OTEC line is also a line on which most major storms occur? Hurricanes form along the line in the Atlantic. They actually almost always follow that path (or at least they seem to when you live in Florida). Most major storms that slam Hawai'i and California follow that path. I think the island would be destroyed by a storm before it was even finished being constructed. So does anyone here know that the OTEC line is also a line on which most major storms occur? Hurricanes form along the line in the Atlantic. They actually almost always follow that path (or at least they seem to when you live in Florida). Most major storms that slam Hawai’i and California follow that path. I think the island would be destroyed by a storm before it was even finished being constructed.

]]> By: Thierry Fournierhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-73113 Thierry Fournier Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:15:12 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-73113 OTEC is certainly a great idea, and combining it with other sources of renewable energies on the same artificial island certainly makes sense. I just wonder why you are focused on the ammonia cycle, as this creates other environmental hazards. The open cycle just using water and steam is very efficient and totally environmental friendly. I had participated to the french program ERGOCEAN in the 80ies, and the conclusion was that the oil price had to double to make OTEC competitive. Since that time, oil has much more than doubled, and it's the right time now for OTEC. OTEC is certainly a great idea, and combining it with other sources of renewable energies on the same artificial island certainly makes sense. I just wonder why you are focused on the ammonia cycle, as this creates other environmental hazards. The open cycle just using water and steam is very efficient and totally environmental friendly. I had participated to the french program ERGOCEAN in the 80ies, and the conclusion was that the oil price had to double to make OTEC competitive. Since that time, oil has much more than doubled, and it’s the right time now for OTEC.

]]> By: troyhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72793 troy Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:04:35 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72793 What everyone here is ignoring is that OTEC, developed to a scale that will replace fossil fuels that are changing our climate, will also contribute to the positive feedback loop that is warming the earth. Deep ocean layers are supposed to stay cold, the amount of CO2 they contain is immense, not to mention billions of tons of a much more potent greenhouse gas, methane hydrate. It's very simple, you don't have to warm up these deep cold layers very much before the ocean starts to give off massive greenhouse gas. Yes, from this supposedly renewable source. The simple truth is that nothing, absolutely nothing in the pipeline to replace fossil fuel is that easy and without consequences. Take wind turbines for example. Multiply by one million the ton or so of copper used in the windings of the large Vestas turbines. (not to mention blades made from oil, steel towers, etc. To make these takes immense amounts of fossil fuel to mine and there is not enough copper left. Perhaps solar is a solution, but imagine changing the earth's weather over the required area the size of Kansas due to the reflectivity of panels and see what butterfly effect you create in a broad area's weather. Perhaps there are simply too many people on the planet and there are no magic bullets to shoot to keep up what is an unsustainable world population? What everyone here is ignoring is that OTEC, developed to a scale that will replace fossil fuels that are changing our climate, will also contribute to the positive feedback loop that is warming the earth. Deep ocean layers are supposed to stay cold, the amount of CO2 they contain is immense, not to mention billions of tons of a much more potent greenhouse gas, methane hydrate. It’s very simple, you don’t have to warm up these deep cold layers very much before the ocean starts to give off massive greenhouse gas. Yes, from this supposedly renewable source. The simple truth is that nothing, absolutely nothing in the pipeline to replace fossil fuel is that easy and without consequences. Take wind turbines for example. Multiply by one million the ton or so of copper used in the windings of the large Vestas turbines. (not to mention blades made from oil, steel towers, etc. To make these takes immense amounts of fossil fuel to mine and there is not enough copper left. Perhaps solar is a solution, but imagine changing the earth’s weather over the required area the size of Kansas due to the reflectivity of panels and see what butterfly effect you create in a broad area’s weather. Perhaps there are simply too many people on the planet and there are no magic bullets to shoot to keep up what is an unsustainable world population?

]]> By: Robert Palgravehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72720 Robert Palgrave Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:43:36 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72720 Regarding the distribution of electrical power from such artificial islands. The state of the art technique for long distance transmission is High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC). Superior to HV Alternating Current, because DC does not suffer losses through capacitance coupling between the conductors - can be built to give losses of only 3% per 1000km. This HVDC system is already in use to interconnect the national grids of various EU countries, and is being proposed for a 'supergrid' that will link solar thermal plants in the deserts of N Africa to Europe. See www.abb.com/hvdc for more on HVDC, and www.trecers.net and www.trec-uk.org.uk for more on desert solar power. Regarding the distribution of electrical power from such artificial islands. The state of the art technique for long distance transmission is High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC). Superior to HV Alternating Current, because DC does not suffer losses through capacitance coupling between the conductors – can be built to give losses of only 3% per 1000km.
This HVDC system is already in use to interconnect the national grids of various EU countries, and is being proposed for a ’supergrid’ that will link solar thermal plants in the deserts of N Africa to Europe.
See http://www.abb.com/hvdc for more on HVDC, and http://www.trecers.net and http://www.trec-uk.org.uk for more on desert solar power.

]]> By: VInay Dikshithttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72719 VInay Dikshit Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:41:09 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72719 Amazing Story. Amazing Story.

]]> By: Josephhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72563 Joseph Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:32:04 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72563 Hurricanes DO occur at or near the equator.In fact, some of the most horrible ones have ravaged Indonesia and Thailand, which are right near/on the equator. Hurricanes DO occur at or near the equator.

In fact, some of the most horrible ones have ravaged Indonesia and Thailand, which are right near/on the equator.

]]> By: Hydrogen-FChttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72517 Hydrogen-FC Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:13:52 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72517 This integrated power generation also solve the main problem that faced by rural island, like in Indonesia. Indonesia is have many islands and not all have electrified yet. You could imagine the people on there don't have electricity and suficient water supply for their life. This integrated power generation also solve the main problem that faced by rural island, like in Indonesia. Indonesia is have many islands and not all have electrified yet. You could imagine the people on there don’t have electricity and suficient water supply for their life.

]]> By: Ryan Flynnhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/comment-page-2/#comment-72128 Ryan Flynn Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:17:02 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/artificial-energy-islands-to-produce-energy-and-meet-water-requirements-of-the-world/#comment-72128 This is a good Idea, I would like to speak with the man who came up with these Islands, as I came up with something about 1.5 years ago. All sketches done, but do the same thing, only in 2010, this will actually start being built. This is a good Idea, I would like to speak with the man who came up with these Islands, as I came up with something about 1.5 years ago. All sketches done, but do the same thing, only in 2010, this will actually start being built.

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