... New Downdraft Tower Could Revolutionize Wind Power ... A revolutionary new clean energy technology is getting set to change the way we think about wind power. The Solar Wind Downdraft Tower, created by Maryland-based Solar Wind Energy Inc. turns the traditional wind turbine design on its head by putting turbines at the base of a tubular tower that generates its own wind throughout the year. How does it work? Read on. A tower at the center of the system creates a downdraft by using a series of pumps to carry water to the top of the 2,250-foot structure. Once the water has reached the top, it’s distributed as a fine mist across the opening, according to Gizmag. The mist evaporates and is absorbed by hot, dry air – which makes the air cooler, denser and heavier than the warmer air outside the tower. The cooled air then falls through the hollow tower at speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h) and is directed through tunnels where it turns turbines housed inside them. One downside to the system is that it requires a lot of water to operate, but it does capture and recirculate excess water from the generation process.