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Physicist and former astronaut, Wubbo Ockels, in conjunction with the Delft University of Technology, successfully generated enough electricity to power 10 houses using a turbine powered by a single kite.  While most Americans associate kites and electricity with the old story of Ben Franklin and a lightning bolt, Dr. Ockels sought to harness the wind with his kites.  The demonstration, carried out earlier this month, was on a small scale, but the possibilities are exciting.

The idea of harnessing wind to power a turbine and generate electricity has been successfully accomplished in England, Japan, and to some extent in the U.S.  However, it has been generally frowned upon because the commonly wind farms rely on a series of fans at a static height.  The energy burned in turning the large fan blades, unpredictable wind currents, and general unsightliness of the massive constructs have made these wind farms impractical and unpopular.  The Laddermill offers a more dynamic and somewhat esthetically pleasing alternative.
 
As the Delft University website explains, “The kites used in the laddermill, generally called “kiteplanes”, combine the ascension characteristics of kites with the descension characteristics of aircraft. By creating a large loop of kiteplanes ascending and descending, a rotation can be created. In turn, this rotation can be coupled to a generator to create energy.”  In other words, as the kiteplanes climb they are using the kite characteristics to maximize airflow provided by the wind.  However, instead of having to be reeled back down to earth, and consume energy, a simple shift in their position will cause the kiteplanes to slowly glide back to earth.  Another flick of the control cables and the kiteplanes are soaring back up to the heavens.
 
The Laddermill solves a problem that traditional windfarms have not been able to successfully address.  Harnessing windpower for a sustainable measure of time has always been a problem.  Because kites are only limited by the lenght of their cable, adjustments can be made to get the most out of winds aloft, regardless of the altitude.  This means that electricity can be generated more often and for longer periods of time.
 
Two other companies are seeking ways to tap into the limitless potential of wind for energy.  Italian based Kitegen, suggests that a series of kite powered turbines run in conjunction with sophisticated tracking and monitoring software could generate enough electricity to power an entire city.  Another company, Makani, is based in the U.S. and is also pursuing kite-centric technology for generating power.  Unfortunately, Makani is still in the formative stages and keeping their ideas close to their chest.  “At this time we are not publicly discussing the details of our technology with the media. Please stay tuned for some future date when we will be releasing some details,” is the polite reply to media requests for information.

Kites have served mankind for almost 3000 years as a form of entertainment, communication, and power.  What was initially seen as a child’s plaything could be the solution to energy based on fossil fuels.  Perhaps this ancient form of creativity was just waiting for the computer programs that would enable engineers to perfect a design elegant enough to be manipulated.  The question of how mankind’s energy needs will be met in the future without coal, oil, or wood may find its answer blowing in the wind.

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 leave a response

By Alicen Hogan