Saudi Study Finds High Hopes In Kite Wind

Study Highlights Favorable Areas for High-Altitude Wind Energy Systems

October 17, 2017 (KAUST via R&D Magazine)

“…[T]ethered wind turbines that generate electricity from abundant and reliable high-altitude winds seems futuristic…[but High-altitude wind resources in the Middle East] has identified the most favorable areas for high-altitude wind-energy systems in the Middle East…[It showed] abundant wind energy up there that could feasibly be harnessed, bringing the possibility of high-altitude power generation a step closer…[S]everal companies worldwide are already testing prototype systems…[The Saudi researchers processed] information on wind strengths at different altitudes that was already available from the US space agency NASA…to identify the most favorable areas for airborne wind-energy [AWE] systems, and the optimal heights at which the turbines would need to fly. They also factored in daily and seasonal variations…Tethered kites could potentially offer the flexibility to vary the altitude of the turbines as wind conditions change. Current technology would most likely allow harvesting wind energy at heights of two to three kilometers, but there is also a lot of wind even higher than that…” click here for more

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