Development and benchmarking of a Particle System framework for structural modeling of soft-wing kites

The Airborne Wind Energy industry is evolving rapidly, aiming to establish its position among the major players in the conventional renewable energy sector. Since this industry is relatively young, it faces various challenges with scaling and integration into society. One aspect that can be improved is the design process of soft-wing kites. The...

A whole-energy system perspective to floating wind turbines and airborne wind energy in The North Sea region

In light of the energy transition to a fossil-free energy system, Europe is experiencing a colossal shift toward renewable energy generation. To facilitate the rapidly growing demand for clean energy, new technologies, and resources are being investigated. Airborne wind energy (AWE) and floating wind turbines have the potential to unlock...

Analysing Sites for Solar and Airborne Wind Energy Hybrid Power Plants: A feasibility analysis of the resource characterization and energy generation for identifying hybrid system locations

A method to help renewables flourish is mitigating the variability that is inherent in natural resources. To do so, we explore the intricacies of the relationship between airborne wind (AWE) and solar energy to uncover the possibilities of future energy-generating hybrid power plants (HPP). Which leads to steering away from fossil fuel reliance,...

Optimization of a Multi-Element Airfoil for a Rigid Airborne Wind Energy Kite

Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems benefit from a high lift airfoil to increase the power output, to that end, multi-element airfoils are investigated for AWE applications. This thesis aims to optimize a multi-element airfoil for a rigid AWE kite that operates in a pumping cycle. Since the kite has distinct operational phases, i.e., reel-out and...

Airborne Wind Energy Systems for Mars Habitats

Using renewable energy to power a Mars habitat is a technological challenge because resources such as solar and wind are significantly weaker than on Earth. This work investigates the feasibility of using airborne wind energy (AWE) systems in combination with solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to power a Mars habitat. The Luchsinger model and the...

Low and High Fidelity Aerodynamic Simulations for Airborne Wind Energy Box Wings

Airborne wind energy systems convert the kinetic energy of wind into usable power. In general terms, this power is proportional to the ratio CL³/CD² of aerodynamic coefficients. From a structural perspective, the thickness-to-chord ratio of conventional AWE wings needs to be high to withstand the high aerodynamic loads. The...

Kite Power for an Electric Pickup Truck

Modelling aeroelastic deformation of soft wing membrane kites

Several structural models that could serve as building blocks for a next-generation FSI-based kite design tool have been developed. The models represent the leading-edge inflatable V3 soft wing membrane kite of Kitepower B.V., by using a wireframe multi-plate representation. Where the shape deformations are calculated using bridle line system...

Influence of the European Electricity Market on the System Design of Airborne Wind Energy: A method to quantify the merit order effect of wind power on the revenue generation of the systems

Airborne wind energy (AWE) is a new generation of wind energy technology which uses tethered kites to reach the stronger and steadier high altitude wind resource. Research and development of AWE has been accelerated in the last two decades. Around 40 institutions around the world are working on their own concepts and architectures of the...

Crossing the valley of death: Entrepreneurial challenges in developing Airborne Wind Energy

In recent years, development of a concept from the mid- 1970's has led to the emergence of Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES). Currently the AWES sector encompasses dozens of companies that are developing a range of concepts of, more or less automated, flying wings attached to a tether which convert wind energy to electricity. At the time of...