Authors: Joe Hadzicki, Dave Lang
Date Submitted: November 30, 2010
Article Type: Discourse

Let’s do a quick overview of the subject of high altitude wind energy. In a nutshell, the industry is attempting to extract energy from the wind at higher altitudes than a wind turbine. Ground based wind turbines are limited to around 300 feet. As you increase altitude, the wind speed also increases. The “pie in the sky” goal would be the jet stream (30,000+ feet) since the sustained wind speed can easily exceed 100 MPH, occasionally reaching speeds in excess of 200 MPH. But this introduces several problems such as equipment, weight, safety, and not least, permission from the government, which seemingly for the near future has directed most efforts to the one to two thousand foot altitude range.

Now let’s consider three main variables: lift device, generator location, and flight path. The industry combines these variables in various combinations resulting in the current designs presented at the conference.

Lift Devices Generally speaking, three different types of lifting devices are currently being used to access higher altitudes:

1. Aerodynamic lift using kites or rigid aircraft style wings

2. Aerostatic lift using aircraft similar to blimps

3. Rotorcraft using devices not unlike helicopters

Page Number: 35
PDF Link: Discourse Issue