Solar Wind Energy Tower

Every month or so, someone sends me this concept: the Solar Wind Energy Tower, with its claim that it will generate energy cost-effectively, and asks me to comment.  I defer to more senior minds in the physical sciences, but I will be utterly amazed if the cost of energy generated by this device isn’t astronomical.  These guys seem to be taken seriously, and I simply can’t understand why.  Note to those interested in cleantech investment opportunities: the fact that the government will grant a patent for a mousetrap that will retail at $2 million does not mean that it’s a good idea.  

Perhaps Glenn Doty or one of the other top energy analysts can weigh in here.