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Power tower plan for Outback
By Grant Holloway
MELBOURNE, Australia (CNN) -- The quest for viable solar energy sources could be about to reach new heights -- literally. A 1,000 meter (3,300 feet) "tower of power," capable of being able to produce enough energy to supply 200,000 homes, is being planned for the Australian Outback. The project, if it goes ahead, would see a structure almost twice the height of the world's current tallest building built near the remote town of Mildura. The tower is designed by structural engineer Professor Jörg Schlaich and would use German-designed advanced lightweight construction techniques to achieve its remarkable height. The tower would sit in the center of a seven kilometer (4 miles) radius circular glass building. Air under the glass would be warmed by the sun. As the warm air rises it would be drawn through turbines at the base of the tower thus generating renewable electricity. A working prototype of the tower has already been built in Spain and the design was judged one of Time magazine's 2002 inventions of the year. Australian listed company EnviroMission Ltd has now signed a heads of agreement with international engineering firm Leighton Contractors to determine the viability of the project. EnviroMission Communications Manager Kim Forte told CNN Monday that most aspects of the project were at a very advanced stage and the concept was well supported by all levels of government in Australia. An environmental impact study still needs to be completed on the project but EnviroMission did not foresee any "show stoppers" in that process, Forte said. "It's looking damn good," she said. Can be builtLeightons are currently conducting feasibility studies and due diligence activities on the project which is estimated to cost about $560 million (Aust. $1 billion) if it proceeds. A completion date of 2006 is envisaged. EnvironMission Chief Executive Officer Roger Davey told Reuters last week that the construction of the tower was not a matter of "if it can be built" but "when". "We have proved that it does work and that it can be built, but what we have got to get a handle on is the cost and we are working very strongly through that now," he told Reuters. The world's tallest free-standing structure is the Canadian National Tower in Toronto at 553 meters (1,815 feet).
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