Ellison's plans for Lanai

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by DoryGray

Yay, a Green Billionaire, as in environmentally conscious vs. accumulating greenbacks.

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None of the billionaires would be billionaires if they accumulated greenbacks. Greenbacks are worthless and billionaires know this.

“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul

[pahoated]

quote:

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Originally posted by canistel

What happens during heavy winds to the mirrors? They're like sails. Since precise aim is integral for creating adequate heating.

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They are on gimbals to track the sun. They probably fold down flat in heavy winds. The molten salt storage will provide continuous power when the mirrors aren't heating up the working fluid. This is why it is a 24/7 system and not a 24/7/365 system. The leeward side of Lanai is very dry, very little high winds, almost continuous sun and desert-like where a solar thermal system could operate continuously most of the time. MECO runs a 10MW diesel generator there now. Lanai is unique since there is only Lanai City and the resort area that are populated. The power lines are owned by MECO, so replacing the diesel generator will become a PUC issue unless Ellison is figuring on running his own, probably underground, power cables. If he starts making good on his promises, then this will be unfolding for the next several years.

[nana valley]

[quote]Originally posted by afwjam

We must stop the evil 1% business men! That money does not belong to him! We made that for him! Its our money, lets spend it on bombing Iran or something useful like that.

My sentiments, too, when I read this. Exception is to the Iran thing; I am of the group of thinkers who believe Iran will indeed use a nuke to annihilate Israel and any other western countries they can reach. Hate the thought of us just waiting for the "bomb" to happen before we retaliate or hide in caves for survival.

[liskir]

Who gets to dictate which country gets nuclear weapons and who does not? The US? Israel?

"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped" Dr. Ron Paul 2012

[MarkP]

This concept is being pursued pretty much at the whim of an idealist. That is both good and bad. Good because he can just choose to do this without having to convince anyone else. Bad because he could just get tired of the idea and give up.

I do think that there is tremendous potential to show what can and can't work in Hawaii. There are lots of technologies from the space program that would never have gotten done purely on their own non-space related merits but that are now bearing fruit in other venues. The same could happen here.

I have flown over Lanai many times. Much of the island is often covered with clouds. The southern and western coasts are usually clear to some degree though, as with all the islands. Most of the coastline is steep there though. Solar installations would have to be on the upper plain, south for the airport. Sometimes you can't see the airport for the clouds though so it will not be the perfect solar location. Most days Kona is so hazy that you hardly cast a shadow. Lots of sun still but diffuse sun. PV wouldn't care but anything employing mirrors would. Now that's Kona, but Lanai, while not directly downwind, is still vulnerable. I wonder what studies have been done and what kind of solar resource there is there.

Interesting point: what WILL be the relationship with MECO?