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this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026
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Solarpunk technology
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Random thought, mostly because they are cool. Could you use a hot air balloon instead of helium? If its generating that much power surely it can heat the air inside it using just a tiny portion of that.
And because I have been browsing too much non credible defense - if Russia attacks these balloons would cut down their planes.
Hot air doesn't have very good lift. Better would be to produce hydrogen via electrolysis.
I assume the explodey problem is why they didn't use hydrogen but yeah if the risk is low enough that could be a good choice.
For an explosion you need a well mixed oxygen + hydrogen atmosphere, which is nearly impossible to create in a blimp. Even the old Hindenburg did not explode, but rather its highly flammable nitro-cellulose skin burned and most of the Hydrogen likely escaped without ever catching fire.