Solar Energy

2013 Edition
| Editors: Christoph Richter, Daniel Lincot, Christian A. Gueymard

Solar Updraft Towers

  • Gerhard Weinrebe
  • Rudolf Bergermann
  • Jörg Schlaich
Reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5806-7_682
How to cite

Definition of the Subject and Its Importance

Electricity generation based on renewable energy is of utmost importance to replace power generation using fossil fuels, as the latter is damaging the environment and exhaustible [1, 2]. Solar energy as a resource is abundant. Several technological options exist to utilize solar radiation. Solar Updraft Towers (SUTs) are one of them. They work on a simple well-known principle: Hot air rises. To make use of this simple physical fact for power generation, air is heated by the sun under a large translucent roof (greenhouse effect ). The heated air is then sucked in by a central vertical cylindrical tube (chimney effect ). The updraft wind, thus created, drives turbines with generators and so generates electricity. The principle has been proven by building and successfully operating a prototype in Spain for 7 years.

Introduction

Current electricity production from coal, oil, and natural gas is damaging the environment; it is nonsustainable, and...

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gerhard Weinrebe
    • 1
  • Rudolf Bergermann
    • 1
  • Jörg Schlaich
    • 1
  1. 1.Schlaich Bergermann Solar GmbHStuttgartGermany