But, how much cheaper is it to build, and how more or less impactful is it on the environment
Not 34k times cheaper or less impactful.
I won’t say there is absolutely no case where these things could be sufficient, but I really doubt you couldn’t just build a modern turbine in smaller scale that might be somewhat overpowered but still cheaper.
If we could assume the tower needs to scale linearly in width, depth, and height, that would make a pole cost difference of 10x10x10 = 1000.
I did not make this up but 100kW/1000 is 100W so it would be on par with a 30m high pole.
The wind blows substantially stronger higher up so I’m not comparing to those on purpose, and this was easy to calculate. I also don’t know the cost or real size of this 9ft pole. If it doesn’t need blades it’ll be even lower and it might be cheaper. Perhaps it can be scaled up too.
Not 34k times cheaper or less impactful.
I won’t say there is absolutely no case where these things could be sufficient, but I really doubt you couldn’t just build a modern turbine in smaller scale that might be somewhat overpowered but still cheaper.
Quick back of the napkin calculation assuming evolving tech.
9ft is about 3m.
A 100kW wind turbine needed a tower height of 30m.
That’s a factor 10 difference.
If we could assume the tower needs to scale linearly in width, depth, and height, that would make a pole cost difference of 10x10x10 = 1000.
I did not make this up but 100kW/1000 is 100W so it would be on par with a 30m high pole.
The wind blows substantially stronger higher up so I’m not comparing to those on purpose, and this was easy to calculate. I also don’t know the cost or real size of this 9ft pole. If it doesn’t need blades it’ll be even lower and it might be cheaper. Perhaps it can be scaled up too.