New Airborne Wind Energy technology: an Italian SME looking for partners or investors to further develop the device

Short summary An Italian SME has invented a new type of electric generator exploiting the most powerful among the new green energy: Airborne Wind Energy technology. The new concept of ground generator is connected to wing and/or kite by tethers, working with a new type of yo-yo movement, to produce renewable energy in large quantity with no greenhouse gas emission and low land use. Partners for research cooperation agreement and investors are sought to proceed to the validation and prototyping phase.

Full description A SME from Northern Italy has developed an AWE (Airborne Wind Energy) technology comparable to a wind turbine, but with the advantage of not bringing up the propellers with heavy and complex structures, given by the wings that fly at an altitude that can be adjusted in function of the winds. The winds at high altitude (troposphere) are proportionally more powerful and constant than the ones close to the ground, and consequently the energy production increases exponentially. Systems based on AWE technology will be able to produce clean energy with a double capacity factor than a big wind turbine, obtained with a structure 90 % lighter and cheaper. Furthermore, the generator is firmly anchored to the ground. The machine belongs to the type "ground generators", developed firstly in a scaled versions (5-20 kW) having a bi-Tether (2 wire), where the energy is generated at the ground through “customized devices”, working as special moto-alternators (similar to a bicycle dynamo) and integrated kinetic accumulator, able to increase and stabilize the energy produced. It uses also a “customized production cycle” of the so called “yo-yo”, where the movement of the wing cycle in an eight form allows running of the moto-alternators. Energy production simulation tests varying the yo-yo cycle have already been performed, at the same time the second prototype has been tested with positive outcomes and confirmations of effectiveness. The wing - the core element – initially will be a normal production kite, this will shorten considerably the time to market. Then, in a second time, a custom design will be developed by combining three technologies coming from conventional aviation, the world of the kite and that of paragliding, with the aim of optimizing both the two operational limits, i.e. the "Cut-in wind speed" and "Cut-off wind speed", by increasing the energy production. After an in-depth study of competitors benchmark, the SME intends to continue with the main goal of the project that is the realisation of a generator which is more efficient then the competitors', merging innovative ideas with the research of the simplest technical solutions. The solution is now at TRL-5, with a prototype tested in real conditions. Italian and PCT Patents pending. Regarding the regulations and permits issue, the flight height is one of the strengths of the project, not suffering the typical constraints of AWE competitors: this machine is in fact designed to fly low, and, while not fully grasping the great advantages given by high altitudes (it is expected to work below 300 meters), KGM1 will be able to intercept breezes much higher than the average of wind turbines (HAWT). To give an example, flying at 50-60 meters (the altitude of a kite) we are already in direct competition with 1500 kW wind towers, but using a generator of only 5-25 kW. In anycase, at the take-off moment, the location will be accurately chosen and permits - if any necessary -requested. Partners for research cooperation agreement for further development as well as potential investors are sought. The SME is an engineering company combining different competences (engineering, CAD design, aviation, freeflight and paragliding). They have previous experience in AWE (Airborne Wind Energy) projects. They wish to found a dedicated start-up company to implement the project.

Advantages and innovations The technology is working with a new type of yo-yo movements, a trajectory that work in horizontal with a linear run generator, has a new and customized wing that will be able to solve some of the problems occured to current similar projects, by increasing the area of energy production site between the “cut-in wind speed” and the “cut-off wind speed”; furthermore the generator is equipped with a device able to increase the efficiency and stabilize the end-to-end power generation. This system will produce cheap renewable energy, in large quantity, with no gas emissions and low land use. It will work in a totally different way than the competitors thanks to the following features: A) the energy production is more stable B) the cables is less worn out C) a customized design of a wing with low weight but hight “g-load” resistence is planned D) in parallel, a study for a special kite having variable surfaces is carried on E) the “Yo-Yo” movement is different from the competitors F) new features of the generator, different from the benchmarking.

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought Type of partner sought: Investors; research organizations and universities or government agencies. Specific area of activity of the partner: organisations promoting research applied to the renewable energy fields; investors willing to invest on new patents or to finance the second phase of the program and the first prototype development.
Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)