From: Robert Lynn
Wind turbines on the ship would probably make more sense, as
at least they will work in any wind direction (even travelling straight into
the wind), as well as in port.I agree that wind turbines make way more sense than sails or even kites, but they too are not cost-competitive will oil at $100 or less. In fact oil would need to go above $200 before wind makes sense in terms of no-subsidy operation. However ! that will happen, no question ... and "sooner-rather-than-later," given the power and greed of OPEC/Big-Oil. There is a very-windy test area for turbines nearby, and they have every type imaginable to cross-compare. I haven't seen the firm data, but from having visited there numerous times in all wind conditions, and talking to the techies - there is clearly one superior design, and it would be ideal for ships. It always seems to be doing the best especially in light wind. It is vertical axis, but with straight and surprisingly thin airfoils. The curved airfoils do far worse. The one pictured below is similar; and it is fairly low cost. In coastal areas, this device blows solar panels away, so to speak, in terms of fast pay-back. The noise is inescapable ... but not all that unpleasant (the sound of $aving$ - as they say). http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9956965-54.html However, subsidies are needed with this one too, in 2012 and beyond. But the underlying premise for wind and solar, in general, is that oil will reach $200/barrel within a decade. At that time, the early adopters will look like prophets - unless LENR comes along first. Jones
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