[aus-soaring] Manmade Thermal?

[phill . glasson]

I've just been reading the latest Electrical World and have come across an article (the third I have seen in various publications over the past year) which describes an electrical generation plant using hot air as the motive force. The power plant consists of a 5km diameter area of glass supported above the ground by some small distance, with 1km high chimney tower at the centre. The glass area heats the air underneath, and the hot air exits through the chimney. The article says that the turbines will generate 200MW. How much residual power will be left after the electricity has been extracted?

I wonder if the glider pilots near the proposed site (Mildura) have heard of it? I wonder how effective it would be as a manmade thermal? I wonder if the authorities will ban soaring over it?

Phill Glasson