Solar power generating blimp for disasters

We've been reminded in recent weeks that the world is a vulnerable place. First as many as 100,000 killed in the cyclone in Burma and now 12,000 feared dead after an earthquake in China. But as we've seen over and over again, sometimes disaster response is even more important than being prepared for the disaster.

How do you take care of hundreds of thousands of disaster refugees? It's not like you can plop down a coal power plant and fire it up wherever it's needed.

Or can you? Andrew Leinonen has put together a strong concept design for an airship covered in solar panels that can be flown into a disaster area, anchored, and immediately begin to serve power to the rescue effort.

Though the airships are small by blimp standards, only 20 meters long, they can house about 120 square meters of CIGS solar cells, producing up to 125 kWh per day. That's enough energy to power 25 shallow water pumps, providing clean water for up to 12,000 people. Or enough to power 400 medical refrigerators.

The airship will fly in its own power box (also containing anchoring mechanisms) that will be lowered when the disaster site is reached. Additionally, the vehicle flies autonomously and can be delivered entirely unmanned, simplifying the diplomatic process of serving aid, which, as we saw in Burma, can be a huge problem.