DOWN TO THE SEA FOR NEW ENERGY, Part 1

SkySails
Ysabel Yates, December 8, 2011 (TXchnologist)

"… With the world’s population surging…limited land resources…[are overburdened producing] food and energy…Fortunately…space is abundant…[on] over 70% of the planet’s surface…[and the] ocean is awash with potential for alternative energy…There are hurdles…But there are a number of technologies…[that have the potential]…"

click to enlarge

"In place of the conventional windmill design used in wind-farms, German company SkySails GmbH uses a free flying kite with a rope to collect energy from…high altitude winds, which provides more energy than winds at surface level. Energy is generated as the wind pulls aloft a kite attached to a rope…attached to a drum that is connected to an electric power generator. Once the rope has been extended to its maximum length, the kite is automatically reeled in to begin the next energy-generation phase. SkySails has a functional working model, but has not been developed on a large scale."