SWET eyes govt PPAs for Arizona Downdraft Tower scheme

Oct 10, 2014 - US firm Solar Wind Energy Tower Inc (OTC:SWET) said yesterday it is aiming to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) for its first Downdraft Tower facility in Arizona with the US Department of Defense (DOD).

The company has hired Santiago 'Rico' Vaca, the founder and senior principal of defense and national security firm S Vaca & Associates LLC, to help it pursue the contracts. Vaca and his company will provide strategic advisory and consulting services to SWET and will conduct due diligence on arranging the PPAs.

SWET has said previously that the plant in Arizona will be able to generate some 4 million MWh of power for sale annually.

The Downdraft Tower represents a hollow cylinder with a water spray system at the top. Pumps deliver water up to spray a fine mist across the entire opening. The water evaporates as the top surface is heated by the Sun, cooling the hot dry air. As it becomes denser and heavier, the air falls at high speed through the cylinder, driving turbines located at the base to produce electricity.

The Arizona tower is SWET’s first project of its kind, which may become operational as soon as 2018. Earlier this month, the US firm said it had identified a site in northwestern Mexico for its second Downdraft Tower.

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