A new record for high-altitude wind power — 300 meters over Alaska

    




Classic wind turbines that are mounted on land and are mounted on the top of high masts, are probably the most recognizable form of devices for collecting wind energy and wind power have long been recognized as a viable method of producing clean renewable energy. However, wind turbines mounted on masts or towers, in fact, have some limitations because the wind closer to the surface of the earth often can constantly change their direction and speed that affects the power output of the turbines.

At that time, as land-based wind turbines remain a practical way to generate clean electricity, the future of cheap wind energy in remote areas can be found in high-altitude wind turbines, which are deployed high above the ground where they can work from a stronger and more constant winds.

Earlier we did a review of a prototype of an inflatable high-altitude wind company Altaeros Energies, which was said to be able to produce two times more electricity at half the cost compared to wind turbines mounted at conventional heights. The company recently announced its plans to deploy a new generation device, which is capable of operating at an altitude of 1000 feet (about 300 meters).

A new version of their high-altitude turbine called the Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT), and after deployment, after 18 months of the demonstration project, this turbine is expected to break the world record for high-altitude turbines, pushing into the background model Vestas the v164-8.0 MW, which is installed at the Danish National test centre for large wind turbines in Osterild.

“The company Altaeros has developed the newest high-rise turbine for the generation of constant energy at low cost for remote from the main grid pieces of land — including island States or settlements, companies in the oil, gas and other minerals, agriculture, and telecommunications companies, and organizations cope with the consequences of natural disasters and military bases. New high-altitude turbine Altaeros use of an inflatable shell filled with helium, in order to raise the device to a great height, where the wind at the same time and stronger and more constant than the wind that is available to traditional wind turbines. High strength tethers hold the turbine in the air and transmit the electricity to the ground.” — according to the website Altaeros.

Based on the fact that high-altitude wind turbines can be transported and put into operation without the use of special cranes or towers, without the construction of underground Foundation, the decision can be a great cost-effective option to meet the energy needs of remote settlements, or as a way of producing electricity during natural disasters.

The project, partially funded Department of energy Alaska will be the first long-term project, initial testing of wind turbines at high altitude. It is planned that after successful testing of these turbines will be deployed in the South of the city of Fairbanks in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Source: aenergy.ru