Solarial: electricity delivery by airships

An interesting and potentially useful concept, capable in some way to solve the problem of lack of electricity in areas affected by natural disasters, was described in his dissertation by engineer Andrew Leinonen. His idea is to use unmanned airships (which he called the Solarial) with high-efficiency solar panels located on their casing and delivering electricity to the ground to ground-based power plants connected with a dirigible cable.


According to the engineer, this “concept” has several significant advantages. Firstly, it is the very method of delivering electricity that does not require ground communications, as well as the possibility of producing (under favorable weather conditions) about 125 kW / h of electricity per day. Secondly, the Solarial itself, which does not require energy (it also “works in the sun”). In addition, the airship is also unmanned. Therefore, it can be pumped not with helium, but with much more available hydrogen. And, finally, efficiency. Such a flying solar battery is able to reach the desired point in a maximum of a couple of days (albeit, provided it is deployed at US air bases around the world).

via Engadget