Spiritofireland.org - suggests energy independence in five years and much more

[wombat]

Can I again add a item Orbit's list: the method by which the reservoirs will be made waterproof. Several people have said that it is an easy matter - maybe some leakage. But, if there is any leakage of sea-water, the water table will be contaminated and all vegetation will die on all the land between the reservoir and the sea and over a wide surrounding area.
I am totally in favour of wind-generators - in fact I voted Green in the hope they would force the ESB to take my surplus and was rightly suckered.
Why won't Spirit of Ireland answer the questions?

They were on Newstalk - I didn't catch it all but they are looking at fairly small installations, they are looking at sealing the valleys using the same systems as are used by mining companies in British Columbia for their tailing ponds. B.C. is a bit like California when it comes to environmental issues so they have to be fairly foolproof. They also promised to answer all questions online so we shall see - I'd hate to see a good idea strangled at birth.

[Gaothfar]

Thanks Wombat. I too am an enthusiastic windy but wish they would make their proposal clear. It's the silence that's suspicious.
And what exactly do they do in British Colombia to make a valley waterproof? I'd love to know.

[Vega1447]

They were on Newstalk - I didn't catch it all but they are looking at fairly small installations, they are looking at sealing the valleys using the same systems as are used by mining companies in British Columbia for their tailing ponds. B.C. is a bit like California when it comes to environmental issues so they have to be fairly foolproof. They also promised to answer all questions online so we shall see - I'd hate to see a good idea strangled at birth.

Steorn promised full disclosure too!

[myksav]

Steorn promised full disclosure too!

Steorn came out with a "free energy" spiel with no basis in factual operation, like that famous "cold fusion".
What Spirit of Ireland has come out with actually has prior existence, Japan. The tech is off-the-shelf, not prototype. All the sub-systems are already available with a track record of working. All SoI have done is add the systems together in a single idea for Ireland.

[wombat]

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And what exactly do they do in British Colombia to make a valley waterproof? I'd love to know.

There are different techniques used to seal tailings ponds at mines - there are a lot of nasty chemicals used in mining and they can wash out of the spent ore over time - hopefully one of our civil engineer posters can elaborate.

[wombat]

What Spirit of Ireland has come out with actually has prior existence, Japan. The tech is off-the-shelf, not prototype. All the sub-systems are already available with a track record of working. All SoI have done is add the systems together in a single idea for Ireland.

My only concern is that they are exaggerating the potential - when asked about Turlough Hill, the guy said their installations would be much smaller. I have a real concern about the approach being taken to windpower - multiple small installations, scattered across every hillside, far from where the demand is.

[myksav]

My only concern is that they are exaggerating the potential - when asked about Turlough Hill, the guy said their installations would be much smaller. I have a real concern about the approach being taken to windpower - multiple small installations, scattered across every hillside, far from where the demand is.

Agreed. We should have clusters of wind turbines along the west coast where the best wind blows. Siting them along the edges of the proposed valley 'lakes' would work well. I would think that going for at least a dozen sites as a start would be better as well, and go for larger lake volumes.

Having the power source on the west coast is far from the demand locations, but so is tapping off the interconnector.

I wonder if the nimby effect could be negated with the idea of less expensive electricity.

[annela]

I'm delighted to say that the Spirit of Ireland website has been added to substantially, quite a bit more on the Who and How so far, with more detail on the biggie - How Much promised shortly.

I had figured that Graham O'Donnell was the entrepreneur involved in Orbiscom, and yes, a previous poster had got that too. But that post said that those shares had been written to zero in 2004. Same company that was sold this past January for 10 M. So there's some serious financial credentials there at least.

I believe in this project, and I'll continue to believe until proven otherwise... Sometimes solutions are just that simple. Don't you just wish the politicos would show some of the same leadership and visionary qualities that this does....

[myksav]

I'm delighted to say that the Spirit of Ireland website has been added to substantially, quite a bit more on the Who and How so far, with more detail on the biggie - How Much promised shortly.

I had figured that Graham O'Donnell was the entrepreneur involved in Orbiscom, and yes, a previous poster had got that too. But that post said that those shares had been written to zero in 2004. Same company that was sold this past January for 10 M. So there's some serious financial credentials there at least.

I believe in this project, and I'll continue to believe until proven otherwise... Sometimes solutions are just that simple. Don't you just wish the politicos would show some of the same leadership and visionary qualities that this does....

Thanks for the update on their website status.

[wombat]

I'm delighted to say that the Spirit of Ireland website has been added to substantially, quite a bit more on the Who and How so far, with more detail on the biggie - How Much promised shortly.
..

They're addressing most of the questions regarding feasibility - its a site well worth visiting as it gives a lot of unbiased answers to present electricity demand and use. I have my doubts about the country becoming self sufficient but it could solve the problem with expanding windpower. It has an uncanny resemblance to the way Ardnacrusha started - an exercise by Siemens suggested by an Irish Engineer who worked for them. This is a serious proposal using existing technology.