Technology Development Trends for High Altitude Wind Power Genration

At the altitudes above 3km, the wind is three to four time faster and less variable than at the current MW sized wind turbine hub height of around 100m. In addition, power generation from wind turbines installed on the ground is intermittent because local wind conditions are affected by local topography and artificial structures. The wind energy researchers and engineers are now looking for revolutionary ideas to utilize high altitude wind resources in-creasing the capabilities of wind turbine installations. This article presents and discusses several concepts for wind energy exploitation from wind at high altitudes. The concepts presented in this paper make use of lifting bodies, called wings or kites, connected to a tether that stetches into the higher regions of the atmosphere.

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