Makani conducted the first flights of its energy kite from a floating platform in the North Sea. The energy kites use a wing tethered to a ground station to efficiently harness energy from the wind, generating electricity at utility-scale.
The kite flies autonomously in loops, and rotors on the wing spin as the wind moves through them, thus generating electricity that is sent down the tether to the grid.
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The energy kite system also integrates aerospace engineering, materials science, and autonomous controls to create a lightweight design that is easy to transport and install.
What is more, the low mass of the system aspires to unlock wind energy resources in areas like deepwater offshore that are not economically viable for existing technologies.
Harnessing energy from the wind in new places means more people around the world will have access to clean, affordable wind power.
Makani said.