Comments on: Cool Earth Solar Constructing First Solar "Balloon" Prototype Plant http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Fri, 25 May 2012 18:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Grampa Joe http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20025 Grampa Joe Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:50:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20025 And this plastic, is it made from petroleum? And this plastic, is it made from petroleum?

]]> By: David http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3361 David Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:14:55 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3361 Wouldn't that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be. Wouldn’t that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be.

]]> By: David http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20041 David Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20041 Wouldn't that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be. Wouldn’t that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be.

]]> By: David http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20042 David Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20042 Wouldn't that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be. Wouldn’t that melt or catch fire in extreme heat? Not trying to put down the idea just wondering how durable some thing like that would be.

]]> By: Troy http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3360 Troy Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:12:13 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3360 I want one for my home! Do they plan to design them for home use and if so, when? I want one for my home! Do they plan to design them for home use and if so, when?

]]> By: Troy http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20040 Troy Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:12:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20040 I want one for my home! Do they plan to design them for home use and if so, when? I want one for my home! Do they plan to design them for home use and if so, when?

]]> By: Ryan Scott http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3359 Ryan Scott Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:49:10 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3359 I love it. Go to the site if you have questions, it is all explained. This is the future, baby! I love it. Go to the site if you have questions, it is all explained.

This is the future, baby!

]]> By: Ryan Scott http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20039 Ryan Scott Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:49:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20039 I love it. Go to the site if you have questions, it is all explained. This is the future, baby! I love it. Go to the site if you have questions, it is all explained.

This is the future, baby!

]]> By: Ryan Scott http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3358 Ryan Scott Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:48:30 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3358 They aren't for homes - they are for empty land, big installations. They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too. They aren’t for homes – they are for empty land, big installations.

They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too.

]]> By: Ryan Scott http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20037 Ryan Scott Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:48:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20037 They aren't for homes - they are for empty land, big installations. They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too. They aren’t for homes – they are for empty land, big installations.

They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too.

]]> By: Ryan Scott http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20038 Ryan Scott Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:48:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20038 They aren't for homes - they are for empty land, big installations. They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too. They aren’t for homes – they are for empty land, big installations.

They have positive inflation pressure. They are made from plastic because its extremely cheap and if it breaks you just swap it out, even unskilled labor can do it which brings the cost to run them over time down way low (most solar installations do not include the cost of maintenance when they talk about cost per kilowatt-hour, but its critical!). Glass is way too heavy and requires lots of heavy rigging too.

]]> By: Jonas H. http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3357 Jonas H. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:13:44 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3357 Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented. Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented.

]]> By: Jonas H. http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20035 Jonas H. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20035 Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented. Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented.

]]> By: Jonas H. http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-20036 Jonas H. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-20036 Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented. Would it survive in even modest winds? How are the solar cells supported? Would the cells overheat in the closed environment? It looks like the balloon is supported in a substantial steel frame for tracking the sun. What would be the net electrical output after subtracting for energy required for blower to keep it inflated and tracking the sun? Seems maintenance cost would be high for commercial operation. Do they rip the balloon open to service the solar cells? How about a lenticular design to place the cells outside the baloon? How about a film stretched across a pan with a vacuum behind the film to maintain the curved shape? Sounds impractical as presented.

]]> By: Stan http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/30/cool-earth-solar-constructing-first-solar-balloon-prototype-plant/#comment-3356 Stan Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:05:38 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1217#comment-3356 How does it convert solar energy to electricity? I didn't see a solar cell there, and boiling and moving water doesn't seem feasible either. How does it convert solar energy to electricity? I didn’t see a solar cell there, and boiling and moving water doesn’t seem feasible either.

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