Yes, that is amazing. We can learn a lot by observing nature and some of its subtle ways of solving problems.
So, I guess the concept is sound, it's just a matter of whether it can be built on such a large scale? We need to establish that it is a sound concept. If it is plausible, the possibilities are really spectacluar. There is a lot of energy that could be tapped in this manner.
If they were going to build the ACM between say Flagstaff and Tucson, Arizona, they could use the Interstate highways 10 and 17 that connect the two cities to lay the pipe. It would not be cheap however. Laying pipe is not cheap. But, if it could produce perhaps a 1,000 MW of electricity reliably, then it should pay for itself rather easily.
For comparission sake, 1,000 MW of electricity is the same amount of electricity a very large coal power plant or nuclear plant could produce. Coal power plants of that size would cost well over $1 Billion to build and would be expensive to operate. Nuclear power plants would be many Billions and very expensive to operate. So, let's say they could build the pressure pipe generator for $1 Billion, there would be very little operational costs, since there is no fuel and few moving parts and minimal staffing needs. A project like that could pay for itself in a few years of operation. |
