Video Explains How A Solar Tower Works
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 03.19.07
Here's an interesting 5-minute video about the solar tower prototype in Spain. The video was produced by SolarMission, the company that is building a large solar tower in Australia. The power plant consists of a very large glazed solar collector with a chimney in the center through which the hot air generated in the collector rises. The hot air wind drives turbo-generators located at the base of the chimney. See also Solar Tower Project Pipped at the Post. :: Via: Energy Blog
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I've been following EnviroMission for a few years now, and are pretty disappointed with the progress. I think one of the big hurdles has been the cost of concrete, which China has been buying like crazy.
I've thought that certain locations could use this technology without so much cost going in to build the solar tower. A updraft tube with natural support - built on the side of a mountain - could have a 1km or taller rise with the mountain providing the structural support without the huge quantities of concrete to build a self supporting solar tower.
It seems this also has the effect of lowering the immediate temperature in the area, because heat energy is converted to motion. It seems to make arid regions slightly more livable?
For more links about Enviro Mission's Solar Towers, including a link to another vidoe that incluses great animations, see: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Enviro_Mission_Ltd._Solar_Tower
this is good vedio
The comment by John L is very good. (using a mountainside support for a solar tube.)
Places like the U S Southwestern desert would be a natural for this.
Currently, plans are afoot to build rotating luxury buildings in Dubai and elsewhere. These buildings are built around a central core similar to the solar towers.
How about combining the two concepts? Solar wind towers inside rotating buildings: Such buildings could be built in urban areas and would provide energy where it is needed, in the citties.