Olympics 2016: powered by waterfall.

The Creators Project is already turning attention from London to Rio, where Swiss engineers are planning to erect a giant, power-generating waterfall:

Designed by Swiss firm, RAAFA, Solar City Tower won the architecture competition for the 2016 Olympic Games. Inspired by Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfall series, the Solar City Tower will be built on Cotunduba, one of the islands in Rio’s Guanabara Bay.

The vertical structure will be used as an observation tower, and it will capture and distribute solar power to the Olympic Village and to the city. The 345 foot structure will have solar panels around its base, used to store energy during the day, releasing it through turbines for use at night. For special occasions, the turbine will pump seawater into the tower and then shoot it back out to sea, creating a waterfall effect in the middle of the ocean.

There are some pretty vivid conceptual illustrations at the link. And a promise that they’re planning a platform up near the top for bungee jumpers.

Tags: engineering