Electricity from the Air
California company Makani Power is developing a flying wind turbine designed to generate cheap renewable power.
Flying windmill: Multiple exposures show the flight pattern of the Makani Airborne Wind Turbine, built by Makani Power. The electricity-generating glider is attached to the ground by a carbon-fiber tether. The craft flies “crosswind,” or perpendicular to the direction of the wind, as a kite does. In early tests, prototypes have generated five kilowatts of electric power. Larger versions with 88-foot wingspans able to generate 600 kilowatts of power are planned.
Credit: Makani
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Categories: Gadget Tags: California, Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, Electric power, Electricity generation, Makani Power, Renewable energy, Watt, Wind turbine
