You like Kiting? Well I like it as well. That´s why I got attracted by the vision of the Italian guys of KiteGen – use huge Kites to exploit altitude winds for producing energy:
Kites are flying in altitudes of up to 10km and transmit the wind forces by its ground cables to a torque which rotates the vertical axis turbine.
The kites are always flown on a predetermined path and about twenty kites can keep rotating a turbine of 1.600 meters diameter at a speed of 15 revolutions per hour which shall produce 1GW of power – the equivalent of a medium size nuclear power station. The capital cost for this kind of technology is about 10 times lower than a nuclear power station.
Watch this video – a simulation of how KiteGen shall work:
It´s an interesting idea and could have a future in less dense populated areas with low aviation activity.
More on KiteGen Research´s
Website