RWE Renewables as well as SkySails Power team up on kite power

• German energy company RWE Renewables has actually signed a collaboration agreement with SkySails Power to harness high-altitude winds with a kite-powered generator.

German power company RWE Renewables has actually authorized a partnership contract with SkySails Power to harness high-altitude winds with a kite-powered generator.

Both companies intend to fly a 120m ² kite to a height of approximately 400m above ground to generate power. The kite pulls rope from the winch throughout its climb in a regulated trajectory. Electricity will be created by the built-in generator from the rotational energy.

The readily available air-borne wind systems have an optimum capability of 100kW to 200kW, at present.

RWE Renewables Europe & Asia-Pacific wind onshore and photovoltaic or pv COO Katja Wünschel said: "I am delighted that we are putting this ingenious, eco-friendly innovation into procedure for the first time.

" It has the possibility for onshore as well as overseas usage as well as to enhance conventional wind power wind turbines this way."

For this three-year pilot project, RWE will purchase an airborne wind energy system with an outcome of approximately 200kW from SkySails Power. RWE will certainly run the system and assess the innovation throughout the project.

The business is presently looking for an appropriate location in Germany for accomplishing this project.

The airborne wind energy system has been developed to harness winds at a higher elevation than wind turbines can typically get to. SkySails Power system includes a ground station including a winch with an integrated generator.

Future technical developments are anticipated to raise the result from kW to MW, for use in large wind farms. SkySails is currently working in the direction of the advancement of such a large-scale system.

SkySails Power CEO Stephan Wrage stated: "The light compact design of air-borne wind energy systems implies that the influence on individuals and also the environment is minimal.

" The systems function really silently, virtually have no visible effect on the landscape and also hardly cast a shadow."