Yes, the day is not far off when reaching for sky is the new motto for generating cost-effective renewable energy. Initially it was considered to be technically non-viable to tap high-altitude winds. But today, technically-advanced materials and innovative computer know-how are giving new life to this scheme with innovative autonomous aerial structures using wind energy to generate power.
Joby Energy, Inc.
model
Joby Energy Inc., exploring wind turbine technology, has developed a
computer-controlled multi-winged kite-like structure which floats around 2000ft
height for generating power. Mr Bevirt is the inventor of this aerial kite. The
DC power generated is transferred to ground through tether to a ground station
to be converted to AC power ready for consumption via a power grid.
Advantages of high
altitude wind turbines
Extolling the virtues of these autonomous aerial power generators, Mr. Bevirt
said, “Operating at five times the height of a conventional turbine increases
both wind speed and consistency resulting in more power, more often.” Professor
William Moomaw, Director, Centre for International Environment and Resource
Policy at Tufts University, Massachusetts, agreed, “The higher speeds at the
greater altitudes should produce significantly more electricity.”
Mega source up above
Actually statistics is strongly in favor of these air-borne wind turbines
because globally tropospheric winds carry nearly carry potential to produce 870
terawatts of energy whereas our total demand put together is only 17 terawatts.
Along with Joby Energy Inc., other companies like Kitegen focusing on power
kites, Magenn Power’s Air Rotor System called (MARS) with a helium filled blimp
design and Sky WindPower with flying electric generators are trying to tap this
mega source to produce clean and cost effective power.
Tread with care
US Federal Aviation Administration has asked the flying altitudes restricted to
2000 ft or less in spite of the potential to reach heights up to 35,000. Also
Professor Mick Womersely, Director of Sustainability,
Reassurance about
safety
Mr. Bevrit confirmed about the safety measures like ability to ground the
turbines in gale-force-type winds, multiple motor designs to circumvent motor
failure and on-board stand-by batteries to land the system in case of tether
malfunction. He assured that road-testing in sparsely-populated areas with good
strong wind is being planned and all safety measures will be paid attention to.
Joby Energy’s aim
Joby Energy aims to create enough systems to power 150 homes (about 300kW) and
move on to larger systems producing 3MW or more. In Mr. Bevirt’s words, “Our
goal is to deploy airborne wind turbines globally to produce cheap, consistent,
and abundant electricity for a prosperous planet.”