Harnessing Wind with Kites: Ireland's Innovative Approach to Renewable Energy
Researchers in Ireland are testing giant kites as a means of generating clean electricity, aiming for a revolution in wind energy.
On Ireland’s western seaboard, researchers are harnessing the power of the wind through an innovative method—flying giant kites.
The kitepower system, developed by the Dutch firm Kitepower, aims to generate renewable electricity and potentially spark a new era in wind energy.
At a test site near Bangor Erris, the team deploys a 60-square-meter kite connected via a cable tether to a generator.
As the kite flies up and then retracts due to the pulley system, it generates power through its motion similar to a dynamo.
This method has been tested during various weather conditions, including Storm Eowyn in January, demonstrating its resilience and value in providing uninterrupted electricity.
The kite system’s flexibility and swift setup capability make it an attractive alternative to traditional wind turbines, which often require extensive infrastructure and face challenges related to land availability, costs, and logistical constraints.
With ambitions to contribute meaningfully to diversified renewable energy networks by the 2030s, airborne wind energy (AWE) systems like Kitepower’s could play a pivotal role in Ireland’s pursuit of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, especially as it aims to achieve ambitious offshore wind energy targets.
The kitepower system, developed by the Dutch firm Kitepower, aims to generate renewable electricity and potentially spark a new era in wind energy.
At a test site near Bangor Erris, the team deploys a 60-square-meter kite connected via a cable tether to a generator.
As the kite flies up and then retracts due to the pulley system, it generates power through its motion similar to a dynamo.
This method has been tested during various weather conditions, including Storm Eowyn in January, demonstrating its resilience and value in providing uninterrupted electricity.
The kite system’s flexibility and swift setup capability make it an attractive alternative to traditional wind turbines, which often require extensive infrastructure and face challenges related to land availability, costs, and logistical constraints.
With ambitions to contribute meaningfully to diversified renewable energy networks by the 2030s, airborne wind energy (AWE) systems like Kitepower’s could play a pivotal role in Ireland’s pursuit of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, especially as it aims to achieve ambitious offshore wind energy targets.
