There is sufficient wind energy, in theory to power our planet. That is, if the wind were consistent, of course. As we know, wind speed drops when evening arrives and the heat of the sun fades for the night. High up in the sky, wind speed is more consistent. Scientists are wondering whether flying wind turbines are possible now, thanks to new technology.
This Idea Has Been Around for a While
Green-thinking technologists have been dreaming of flying wind turbines for over forty years. They have longed to tether them to battery storage on the ground with transmission cables. All that was stopping them was the lack of technology to make it practical.
The situation changed in the past ten years. We now have unmanned aircraft, and high-density storage batteries. Sometime soon, we could have high voltage wireless power transmission to pull everything together. Revolutionary things are happening as we write this post.
How Flying Wind Turbines Soar Like Kites
Multiple motor-generator sets provide thrust for take-off. These convert wind power to turn electric motors, while simultaneously generating electricity for transmission onward. After take-off, a computer steers the kite, and maintains a circular path by adjusting individual rotor speeds.
The surplus energy travels down the cable to storage batteries on the ground. Initially, these flying wind turbines fly five times higher than ground-based turbines. But the sky is the limit literally with high voltage wireless power transmission.
Applications for Wind Generator Kites
There is no reason why wind-powered kites could not operate in the upper stratosphere. Although the U.S. Federal Administration currently pegs the upper limit at 600 meters. We can imagine ships crossing the ocean powered by flying wind turbines.
We can even visualize someday traveling through our solar system on the power of solar winds, released from the upper atmosphere of the sun.
Related
The Answer Is Blowing in the Wind
Floating Wind Power Comes to Peterhead
Preview Image: Benjamin Franklin Flies More Than a Kite
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/An8vtD1FDqs
