Which is why I'm excited to report on the WINDHUNTER. It's more than just an amazing name for a mid-nineties Kevin Costner movie.
The WindHunter project proposes mid-oceanic hydrogen generation. Using far-off-shore wind generators has not been feasible because there's no way to transport the electricity to market. The people at WindHunter see the opportunity and say, "Why not just turn the electricity straight into hydrogen, and then ship the hydrogen where it's needed?"
There is a tremendous amount of power in oceanic wind currents just waiting to be harnessed with extremely minimal environmental impact. WindHunters would basically be off shore oil rigs but, instead of non-renewable oil, they'd be creating hydrogen from sea water, our world's most plentiful resource.
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written by Geoff, April 12, 2007
Why not toss some solar panels on the flat bed of the thing while you're at it?
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written by Hank, April 12, 2007
Indeed, there's really no reason not to. I imagine that solar would be a pretty tiny fraction of the rigs power, but as long as all that flat space is there, more electricity would produce hydrogen more quickly...
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written by Jinks, April 12, 2007
I would hate to have that job. Being out on the ocean for weeks or maybe months at a time, depending on how much hydrogen the ship is capable of storing.
And if its hunting wind, and the best wind it can find, I'm sure it will run into dangerous squalls quite often. How many of these are going to capsize searching for the best wind?
Reminds me of that show the deadliest catch in a way...
And if its hunting wind, and the best wind it can find, I'm sure it will run into dangerous squalls quite often. How many of these are going to capsize searching for the best wind?
Reminds me of that show the deadliest catch in a way...
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written by Hank, April 12, 2007
The working conditions will be roughly equivalent to current off shore oil rigs. With crews taking two week 24/7 shifts. It's not exactly prime working conditions, but they would at least be paid well.
As for the dangers, this would actually be way safer than oil rigs because it could avoid storms. There's no way one of these would intentionally be in a hurricane just to catch the wind. They'd be much more interested in the every-day strong and steady winds of the mid-ocean.
As for the dangers, this would actually be way safer than oil rigs because it could avoid storms. There's no way one of these would intentionally be in a hurricane just to catch the wind. They'd be much more interested in the every-day strong and steady winds of the mid-ocean.
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written by David, April 12, 2007
That is such a great idea! If only the government were incentivizing oil companies to start investing in technologies/solutions like this... it's not like they don't have the capital or expertise to make it work!
David
GO CEO
David
GO CEO
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written by Patrick, April 13, 2007
I'm wondering how much hydrogen an installation like this could produce. Given the amount of fuel a ship this size consumes every day, would the hydrogen produced at least cover the emissions of the ship itself?
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written by Wind Advocate, April 13, 2007
Wind turbines feature 1 single turbine per shaft for a reason -- wind shear. I've studied many books on wind turbine technology. This purposed design is flawed with multiple turbines on a single vertical access. On top of that, the cost of taking a platform out to hunt wind vs placing wind turbines in the ocean permanently are vastly different. Using a ship that would otherwise be decommissioned to place a permanent platform of wind turbines would be the most feasible approach. "Wind Power" by Paul Gipe is a good place to start learning what really works in the wind industry.
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written by the dude, April 13, 2007
how much oil will it take to run that beast all year. its fuckin stupid, and will never happen. the world is not running out of oil and global warming isnt going to change anything.
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written by Nov Shmoz ka Pop, April 13, 2007
I've had such an urge to scream about the surge. Then I just go an merge and sing an old dirge.
I want to push, or squeeze a tush and impeach
Bush.
I want to push, or squeeze a tush and impeach
Bush.
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written by unimportant, April 13, 2007
Think energy returned on energy invested. This behemoth will require far more non renewable energy than it will ever create, not only to run but to build. The hydrogen economy will never happen. It is way to difficult and dangerous to ship hydrogen. Not only that, but water vapor (product of combusted H2) is a far stronger green house gas than CO2.
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written by unimportant, April 13, 2007
It would have to have one colossal anchor on it to keep it stationary enough to generate power. I'm pretty sure a wall of fans like that would basically create a really crappy sail, as opposed to a power plant of any kind.
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written by Dwindle, April 13, 2007
Still, we are left with the original problem of hydrogen - it's too expensive to haul. It can't be piped like petrol, so it must be trucked - wasting half of it's fuel in the process.
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written by tom, April 13, 2007
@hank: It's a brilliant idea and all, but saying it's safer is kinda incorrect... especially when you consider that hydrogen has a nasty tendency to explode, much more so than oil. But of course some risks are worth the benefit.
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written by Hank, April 13, 2007
I wouldn't say Hydrogen is all that much more dangerous than oil. I mean, in both you're dealing with extremely high energy densities. The only difference with H2 is that it has to be compressed or cooled to store a lot in one place.
We're kinda stuck with nasty tendencies toward explosion any time we pack a lot of energy into a small space. Just look at laptop batteries.
We're kinda stuck with nasty tendencies toward explosion any time we pack a lot of energy into a small space. Just look at laptop batteries.
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written by jrock6001, April 13, 2007
this is an intuitive idea, using the natural powers of our world to power our lives, but it is not realistic. atleast not on this platform. you create an interesting beginning to theorize. harnessing the powers of wind is interesting but a more efficient method must be developed
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written by Sandy, April 13, 2007
At the huge risk of sounding ignorant, since I am a great fan of Kevin Costner and his movies and I was sure I had all of them on both VHS and DVD. WindHunter is not something I'm familiar with.
Could you, perhaps be referring to Waterworld???
Thanks.
Sandy
Could you, perhaps be referring to Waterworld???
Thanks.
Sandy
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written by Jim, April 13, 2007
You don't have to put it out on the ocean. A land based operation on the coast would do the same thing. Just burn the stuff right there, generate the power and send it to the grid. There's more wind at the coast anyway, due to diurnal heating of the land. But, this raises the question of why make hydrogen anyway? Unless you have fusion technology, you might as well generate electricity directly from the wind.
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written by Marcus, April 13, 2007
Electricity is easier to transport by cable on the sea bed to land. The technology is there since many years.
Why using a boat to find winds? Using many large "wind mills" on different locations would make the energy production more reliable.
The wind mills could be secured by several wires at the bottom of the sea. An attached giant floating "buoy" could look something like the boat!
Why using a boat to find winds? Using many large "wind mills" on different locations would make the energy production more reliable.
The wind mills could be secured by several wires at the bottom of the sea. An attached giant floating "buoy" could look something like the boat!
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written by Hank, April 13, 2007
Sandy -
I'm just sayin, it sounds like it would be the name of a mid-nineties kevin costner movie...not that it actually is.
I was kinda making fun of Kevin...or maybe just the mid-nineties. Sorry.
I'm just sayin, it sounds like it would be the name of a mid-nineties kevin costner movie...not that it actually is.
I was kinda making fun of Kevin...or maybe just the mid-nineties. Sorry.
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written by Alan, April 13, 2007
I think that wind farms are a GREAT idea, but how about this... The boats cast a shadow on the water, which I could imagine might effect the ecosystem below, and they will cost a lot in resources and money to transport. Instead, put wind farms in the ocean in clusters, each with its own axis as in normal turbines, then link them via cable to mainland. This will decrease the amount of surface area on the ocean that is disrupted, it saves the cost of transporting hydrogen, and you'll have the added efficiency of direct electrical transfer - no converting from wind->electricity->H2->electricity ... just wind->electricity.
Invest in wind and solar, friends - they're going to become mainstream/typical energy sources in the very near future. :)
Invest in wind and solar, friends - they're going to become mainstream/typical energy sources in the very near future. :)
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written by Michael, April 14, 2007
@ Alan: Solar more so than wind I think. With the advances in nano technology and the ability to print solar cells to a film rather than clunky panels, solar energy will become much more efficient and economically viable. Lets hear it for nanoscopic photo-voltaic particles!
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written by Kat, April 16, 2007
Although adding solar panels would be a great idea, there is the underlying problem of storing that power. Currently, lead batteries are used. They don't last forever, and then when they are taken to a dump (because seriously - who takes the time to find a "proper storage facility" for batteries?) the lead leaks and causes more harm than good. Now I've never heard of another method of storage for power gained through solar panels. If there is one, then hallelujah. But right now, solar energy technology isn't up to par with where it should be.
If the price of shipping hydrogen were cheaper and an alternative fuel source were used, this whole wind idea would be a feasible option. Good start! :-)
If the price of shipping hydrogen were cheaper and an alternative fuel source were used, this whole wind idea would be a feasible option. Good start! :-)
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written by Peter, April 16, 2007
Adopt a kid in stead of making them will reduce future consumption a lot faster
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written by Spencer, April 18, 2007
This is the stupidest idea I've heard of recently. What kind of idiot thinks this is a PRACTICAL idea? You know what's a better idea? We should mount wind turbines to the wings of 747s, that way as they fly they generate electricity. What an idiot!
Until we develop fusion, hydrogen will not be a practical way of storing energy.
Until we develop fusion, hydrogen will not be a practical way of storing energy.
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written by Milander, April 18, 2007
"We should mount wind turbines to the wings of 747s, that way as they fly they generate electricity. What an idiot!"
Hum.. actually, they do. Once airborne all internal electricity is generated by the jet engines fan rotation. Especially the main rotor fans at the front of the jet that squeeze the air before combustion takes effect.
Who's the idiot ??
I would agree that a floating boat driven wind farm is an idiotic idea as is the idea of a hydrogen ecomony at the moment.. maybe in 30 years or as and when economic conditions force us to consider it
Hum.. actually, they do. Once airborne all internal electricity is generated by the jet engines fan rotation. Especially the main rotor fans at the front of the jet that squeeze the air before combustion takes effect.
Who's the idiot ??
I would agree that a floating boat driven wind farm is an idiotic idea as is the idea of a hydrogen ecomony at the moment.. maybe in 30 years or as and when economic conditions force us to consider it
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written by Luke, April 21, 2007
This concept is bad from all angles. Cost of operation VS production leaves you in the negative. Wind and Solar energy combined with all the
other types of naturally energy sources can be used in a localized way so that less energy is lost in the transport. As currently regardless of
what kind of energy you refer too, they all lose some energy in the transportation. Localized energy sources add security to the national grid. The use of fossil fuel's has had to go through many years of
extensive development and billions of dollars in research (Remember Leaded Gas?). The same will happen to alternative energy in time. We
need to stop bickering about the value of alternative energy and invest in our future.
other types of naturally energy sources can be used in a localized way so that less energy is lost in the transport. As currently regardless of
what kind of energy you refer too, they all lose some energy in the transportation. Localized energy sources add security to the national grid. The use of fossil fuel's has had to go through many years of
extensive development and billions of dollars in research (Remember Leaded Gas?). The same will happen to alternative energy in time. We
need to stop bickering about the value of alternative energy and invest in our future.
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written by Jim Holm, June 18, 2007
The following papers present what I consider to be the most revealing studies about wind and solar energy's reliability I have ever seen. They are well worth downloading and studying before thinking to yourself or telling anyone else that wind and/or solar electricity is going to save our bacon. These pure academic research papers are from Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center and can be obtained with their permission at: http://wpweb2.tepper.cmu.edu/ceic/index.htm
CEIC-06-01: "The Spectrum of Power From Wind Turbines"
Jay Apt
CEIC-07-05: "The Character of Power Output from Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Systems"
Aimee E. Curtright and Jay Apt
CEIC-06-01: "The Spectrum of Power From Wind Turbines"
Jay Apt
CEIC-07-05: "The Character of Power Output from Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Systems"
Aimee E. Curtright and Jay Apt
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