The several benefits of generating power though solar technology is convincingly ‘overshadowed” by the undeniable fact that they become inefficient in the absence of sunlight. Contrary to video solar tower is able to generate electricity round the clock, all year round. A model project idea is describe here.

If you’ve around 1000 sq. ft. of free space which has a concrete base, preferably for the terrace area of your house, you might well take a look at constructing this interesting project of the mini solar tower (for experimental purposes only). The concept is being used in countries like Spain and Australia successfully for a long time. The present technique is basically inspired from there, but honestly, has not been practically tested by me. The content presented here covers minute details of the project based on assumptions and theoretical calculations only, so readers’ discretion is required.
The basic idea stands for the fact that hot air always tends to rise upwards displacing the cold air and forcing anything returning in that direction. The phenomenon is well exploited by birds like eagles, kites, and vultures and also by manmade gliders to remain air borne without utilizing internal energy. This updraft of hot air, when properly channelized via an enclosed space within the shape of a tower, could be effectively utilized to rotate a turbine loaded which has a motor. This motor when rotated externally produces electricity due to churning of their copper winding against a magnetic field.
The most outstanding feature of the type of solar updraft power plant (unlike other methods) is that it remains functional even through the night, during overcast conditions, and during winter seasons. That means you receive an uninterrupted power supply throughout the year irrespective of weather conditions. This becomes possible due to the idea that this system relies on the difference in the temperature amount of the atmosphere on the base and also the top with the tower. Since at ground level, the temperature is always more than the upper atmosphere, the specified temperature differential always remains constant and also the hot air rise never stops. Also, throughout the day the collector absorbs heat and sustains it so that the up draft continues even through the night.
Let’s investigate and find out how this natural gift could possibly be harnessed to produce electricity.

As we see in the given diagram (click to enlarge), the base or the ground is preferably painted black in color to enhance better absorption in the solar heat. Also, a concrete base is better suited with the objective as their absorption and sustainability of heat is consistent and better.
A tower (a PVC pipe here) is erected at the center in the ground and is clamped using angles. The bottom open end with the pipe is elevated with a certain particular distance through the ground. This is done to facilitate free updraft with the hot air in to the pipe.
A relatively large transparent or translucent plastic cover or canopy is spread and stretched tightly on the ground around the pipe so that the pipe passes by having a cutout within the center in the canopy creating a diameter exactly matching to that from the pipe. The cut out section of the canopy should snugly fit the pipe and really should be sealed to avoid the hot air from escaping or leaking. The canopy should keep a minimum height for at least a foot across the ground, again to facilitate easy cycling of air.
The pipe is painted gradually from black to white, starting in the bottom to the top. This pattern helps in maintaining a consistent speed with the rising air and acts as a ‘fuel.” This happens as the darker shades warm up more quickly compared to preceding upper lighter shades therefore the air enclosed within is always pushed in the upward direction in a constant acceleration.
The lower half with the solar tower or perhaps the pipe is fitted having a stepper motor designed with blades which are quite similar to that of your CPU fan. The rising air hits the blades and turns them with a considerable force. The rotation in the blades moves its internal winding which reacts with the fixed magnets and generates electricity. This electricity passes from the motor output wires and may be used to power the light or an appliance or could be simply stored in batteries for later.
For additional information and videos about these solar towers, kindly visit Green-planet Solar Energy.

Concrete base ground of about 1000 sq. ft.
PVC pipe colored appropriately about 50 feet long and 10 inches in diameter,
DC stepper motor with blades as explained in the text (12V/2A),
Large transparent plastic cover or canopy comprised of polythene to pay the said area,
Clamps, nails, strings etc. to fasten and construct the whole set up as explained.