Electricity in the Air: Tethered Wind Energy Systems

Abstract

This article summarizes the fundamental dynamics and control attributes and challenges faced by stationary and crosswind airborne wind energy (AWE) systems. AWE systems have undergone rapid and steady technological development over the past decade, with several organizations demonstrating basic economic and technical viability of their concepts. The theoretical and numerical analyses performed so far indicate that crosswind systems have the potential to achieve a power curve similar in shape to that of current commercial wind turbines, with rated power of 2–5 MW. The ongoing development activities are increasing the viability of the concept; yet, several technical issues remain and need to be addressed, to definitively show that this technology can be scaled up to industrial size. The expert analysis suggests that AWE technologies are at the dawn of their development, and there is significant untapped potential for the use of innovative solutions in multiple fields such as materials, power electronics, and aerodynamics, to tackle problems. These challenges present a wealth of opportunities for future, multidisciplinary research and development activities.