Water lily plan for solar power

james73 · Water lily plan for solar power

Large lily-shaped discs which harness solar power could soon be seen floating
on the River Clyde.

The concept, from Glasgow-based ZM Architecture, has been handed to
the city council with the hope that a trial project could go-ahead.

The proposal has already won the firm the International Design Awards
(IDA) Land and Sea Competition.

Judges were impressed by the idea that energy harnessed on a river could
help reduce a city's carbon footprint.

In the IDA project description, ZM Architecture said its project proposed to
stimulate river activity and change by using the surface to harness solar
power on a large scale.

Rotating discs

The energy created would then be transformed and exported to the
national grid.

The firm said the design of the lilypads was "inspired by nature" and they
could be tethered to the river bed.

Integrated motors would then rotate the discs to follow the sun for maximum
output.

James H

Fjord

WTF? why don't they stick em on roofs all over the city and fit hydro generators at the tidal weir.
I dunno boffins and thier madcap ideas

james73

Yep, I've always thought that as well. Surely small solar panels on every roof
would be a better place to start reducing the city's "carbon footprint?"

James H

scallopboy

I'd rather they looked to have decent insulation in buildings and an integrated district heating and cooling system using small scale heat and power generation and solar dumps in the city parks. But then again, I was always 40 years ahead of the time.

cybers

I thought they wanted Percival to be able to park the schooner outside his luxury shoebox.
Kin see it now... some drunken hoorah bashing the 30 footer all the way to Erskine ....

As for the rooftop idea ... Cmon that would be too simple. why go for the blatently obvious when there might be a grant for the totally stupid option.

james73

Lilies to light up the Clyde (Evening Times)

GLASGOW could be lit up by giant solar lily pads along the River Clyde - if a
city architect gets his way.

Peter Richardson, of ZM Architects, believes the large floating discs could
harness enough sunlight to boost the city's electricity grid.

The lily pads - measuring between 15ft and 45ft in diameter - would be
secured to the river bed. They would have motors to make them revolve
and capture sunshine from any angle.

The floating discs would capture the sun's rays using solar panels to
produce electricity - even on a cloudy day.

At night they could provide stunning neon light circles beneath landmarks
such as the Squinty Bridge, Glasgow Tower or the Finnieston Crane.

The futuristic scheme is part of a pilot project being considered by
Glasgow City Council.

James H

Stuball

They could have used a more up to date picture on the right

maximusmop

the gha could fit solar panel's to the roof's of the tower block's to power the comunal lighting, and any excess could then be exported back to the national grid?