Today I watched an interesting video clip of a new form of solar energy power generator.  It is from a company called “Enviromission” who plans to have a test model up and running by 2008.

The basic idea is to use a large round greenhouse type collector with a huge tower in the center rising 500 meters (in the test model).  The greenhouse collector portion has a slightly angled roof to help move the hot air inside over to the opening of the tower.  The updraft of the hot air moving up the tower powers turbines to produce the electricity.  Additionally, they plan to have water ponds outside the circle of the greenhouse collectors that can be drawn on for heat on into the night.

http://www.enviromission.com.au/