Check out this fascinating project ‘KiteGen’ developed by Sequoia Automation to meet the needs for rising global electricity consumption. Presently the concept (that uses kites instead of propellers, theoretically producing as much energy as a nuclear power plant) is on the drawing board, but Sequoia believes it can produce a working model of the KiteGen within two years. The KiteGen improves upon inefficient windmill systems that use a single propeller to generate energy. Unlike these static generators, the dynamic movements of the KiteGen’s kites allow it to use an autopilot-like system to adjust to wind conditions in order to achieve the highest possible speed, and therefore the greatest output.
The efficiency of the system would be so great, in fact, that Sequoia estimates KiteGen could produce one gigawatt of power for just 1.5 euros per megawatt hour. Were it able to achieve these theoretical figures, KiteGen would be nearly 30 times more efficient than other European energy production techniques, which costs about 43 euros per megawat hour.
Really quite an ingenious idea especially linked to radar. Nobody wants to look at propellers anymore than a bunch of kites in the middle of some beautiful setting. I like the idea of rivaling nuclear as it would really be great to erase this form of energy, which has never been cost effective without governments stepping in, apart from the lethal potential, and anything that takes governments out of the equation must be preferable. I think I would rather look at windmills and kites!
Via: LoveOrganics
