Former astronaut harnesses wind to generate power by kite
Friday 22 June 2012
Former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and researchers from Delft University were due on Friday to demonstrate a way of generating electricity using massive kites flying up to 450 metres above the earth.
The kite has been years in development. Ockels first began the project in 1993 and today's launch is supposed to attract corporate interest, according to Trouw.
The kite uses the traction produced when it unwinds from a winch to generate power. Once the maximum length of the cable is reached in a figure of eight motion, the kite is quickly wound in and relaunched.
The researchers say the advantages over traditional wind turbines are many. The kite is higher in the sky where winds are more constant, uses less material and is less environmentally invasive.
I hope this is not another video like the
mechanical wings flight.
By Trevor Browne | 22 June 2012 3:56 PM
Sounds like it.
What about the hazard to planes, a giant kite on a big thick cable?
Does a human quickly wind in the kite? Or do they use the energy produced when the kite blows out?
I guess they fold in the wings of the kite so there's no drag on the way back in.
By Sharon | 22 June 2012 5:08 PM
Jan Akkerman played a gig using a similar thing called the Laddermill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFWIYIUgo0
By Mick Marsh | 22 June 2012 9:28 PM
I read today of a much better and safer idea from a University in Portugal of a wave power generator that has overcome the problem with the fact that waves are unpredictable, irregular, and of varying intensity.
By Gerard | 22 June 2012 11:42 PM
Mostly any device that out does petroleum is going to be covered up. The royalty's of the world want to maintain control of the energy resources. They will never let anything meaningful be invented. Just nonsense like this.
By craig | 23 June 2012 12:30 AM
Maybe I can attach one of these to my house so I don't have to pay outrages power bills!
By Phil | 23 June 2012 2:58 AM
I wonder what energy it uses to reeel itself back in
By Visitohr | 24 June 2012 9:58 AM
It is easier (and probably cheaper) to put solar panels on your roof, Phil.
By pepe | 24 June 2012 10:30 AM
@ Phil. Now imagine all your neighbors having a kit on their roof.. Now that will be a lot of tangled lines... :)
But it may be a solution for the Artic expeditions, where there is no civilization and no airplanes...(or) the moon mission..
By Ram | 24 June 2012 11:37 AM
A similar project completed the first prototype phase 5 years ago. It worked well but restrictions from the civil aviation authorities and similar thing are holding back the project.
http://kitegen.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KiteGen
By italian | 24 June 2012 7:35 PM
when i saved as a favorite it and you will be returning to try it out better subsequently
I hope this is not another video like the
By Trevor Browne | 22 June 2012 3:56 PMmechanical wings flight.
Sounds like it.
By Sharon | 22 June 2012 5:08 PMWhat about the hazard to planes, a giant kite on a big thick cable?
Does a human quickly wind in the kite? Or do they use the energy produced when the kite blows out?
I guess they fold in the wings of the kite so there's no drag on the way back in.
Jan Akkerman played a gig using a similar thing called the Laddermill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFWIYIUgo0
By Mick Marsh | 22 June 2012 9:28 PMI read today of a much better and safer idea from a University in Portugal of a wave power generator that has overcome the problem with the fact that waves are unpredictable, irregular, and of varying intensity.
By Gerard | 22 June 2012 11:42 PMMostly any device that out does petroleum is going to be covered up. The royalty's of the world want to maintain control of the energy resources. They will never let anything meaningful be invented. Just nonsense like this.
By craig | 23 June 2012 12:30 AMMaybe I can attach one of these to my house so I don't have to pay outrages power bills!
By Phil | 23 June 2012 2:58 AMI wonder what energy it uses to reeel itself back in
By Visitohr | 24 June 2012 9:58 AMIt is easier (and probably cheaper) to put solar panels on your roof, Phil.
By pepe | 24 June 2012 10:30 AM@ Phil. Now imagine all your neighbors having a kit on their roof.. Now that will be a lot of tangled lines... :)
By Ram | 24 June 2012 11:37 AMBut it may be a solution for the Artic expeditions, where there is no civilization and no airplanes...(or) the moon mission..
A similar project completed the first prototype phase 5 years ago. It worked well but restrictions from the civil aviation authorities and similar thing are holding back the project.
http://kitegen.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KiteGen
By italian | 24 June 2012 7:35 PMwhen i saved as a favorite it and you will be returning to try it out better subsequently
By ovulation test | 27 June 2012 1:37 PM