Airborne wind energy (AWE) harnesses higher-altitude winds using kites to generate renewable electricity. As AWE technologies move closer to potential commercialization, understanding how local communities interact with and are affected by these technologies is crucial for socially responsible deployment. Identifying key predictors of community acceptance can help develop targeted measures to address potential impacts while the technology is still adaptable. This study tested the Integrated Acceptance Model (IAM) on survey data from two European AWE test sites. A linear regression analysis revealed that two of the five explanatory variables significantly predicted acceptance: perceived site impacts (e.g., sound emissions, landscape changes, and aviation lights), as well as developer transparency and fairness in site operations. In contrast, attitudes toward the energy transition, perceived economic impacts, and social norms did not predict acceptance. These findings suggest that while AWE developers prioritize technical challenges, attention must also be given to social factors, such as minimizing impacts and ensuring transparent and fair implementation. The results also have important policy implications, highlighting the need for AWE-specific regulations and socially responsible planning practices. Further research is required to investigate additional acceptance predictors, especially if AWE technologies continue to develop toward commercial applications.

This computational study compares the performance of circular and figure-of-eight flight patterns for fixed-wing ground-generation airborne wind energy (AWE) systems using a PID-based basic controller that effectively controls the kite during each pattern's pumping cycle in a MATLAB® Simulink® environment. A simple, adjustable control framework enables a steady analysis within consistent operational parameters, allowing for fair comparisons of power output, power quality, ground surface area requirements, and structural load impacts. Unlike for small lightweight kites, the simulation results reveal that when using the 150 m2 MegAWES reference kite, the power is not similar over different patterns. The circular flight pattern achieves the highest cycle-averaged power output in a smaller operational area, making it advantageous for maximising energy within limited spatial constraints. Conversely, the figure-of-eight down-loop pattern demonstrates superior power quality with lower power peaks and lower expected structural fatigue due to a reduced cyclic aerodynamic load frequency and amplitude, supporting greater operational stability and system longevity. The figure-of-eight up-loop does not stand out on any of the metrics considered in this work. This study offers insights into the trade-offs between energy output, efficiency, and structural demands associated with each flight path, providing a foundation for future AWE flight path selection and control strategy optimisations.

The design and control of airborne wind energy systems requires fast, validated reduced-order models. Because the aerodynamic identification of soft, bridled kites is challenging, models that minimise the number of parameters to be identified can be particularly valuable. This paper presents a reduced-order model for the translational dynamics of bridled kites, consisting of a wing supported by multiple bridle lines. The kite is modelled as a point mass in a spherical reference frame aligned with the instantaneous tangential flight direction, referred to as the course reference frame. The angle of attack follows geometrically from a constant angle between the wing chord and the bridle line system, under the assumption that the wing instantaneously aligns with the pull direction, i.e. the rotational dynamics are neglected. The formulation retains gravitational and inertial terms introduced by the curvilinear reference frame and applies a quasi-steady condition of zero-path-aligned acceleration, modelling the motion as a sequence of quasi-steady (trimmed) states that relate the trim speed and angle of attack. Model validation is based on public flight datasets from two different soft-wing kites and on dynamic simulations that cover higher wing loadings. Results show that for low wing loadings typical of soft kites, the quasi-steady approximation reproduces the dynamic trajectories with less than 1 % deviation in mean reel-out power. For higher loadings and hard-wing kites, inertia introduces substantial phase lag and amplitude damping, causing power deviations of up to 14 %. Overall, the proposed model provides a computationally efficient framework for analysing the translational dynamics of bridled kites. The formulation is well suited to trajectory optimisation, parametric studies, and control design in airborne wind energy systems.

Leading-edge inflatable (LEI) kites exhibit pronounced anhedral and pressure-side recirculation associated with their double-curved geometry and tubular frame. This study reports wind tunnel stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements around a rigid 1:6.5 scale model of the TU Delft V3 kite. Measurements are acquired in chordwise planes located between the mid-span and tip at two angles of attack and are compared against slices extracted from Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations at corresponding spanwise positions. Reflection-prone surface geometry required tailored masking and an additional out-of-plane velocity filter, leaving near-wall data in the pressure-side recirculation region unresolved. Sectional lift and drag were estimated using the Kutta–Joukowski relation, RANS surface pressure integration, and Noca's method. Within the Noca framework, reliable lift and physically consistent drag are obtained only from specific inviscid contributions, indicating that selective use of individual terms is more robust than applying the full formulation in the present configuration. Local discrepancies near strut junctions are consistent with three-dimensional (3D) strut-induced flow effects observed in computational fluid dynamics (CFDs), which are captured by surface pressure integration but not by contour-based planar methods. Comparison confirms agreement between PIV and CFD to within 5 % of the freestream velocity across the majority of the flow field, and circulation distributions obtained from contour integration show consistent spanwise trends between the vortex step method, RANS, and PIV, jointly supporting the use of the dataset as a valuable, albeit not definitive, validation resource for aerodynamic models of LEI kites.

Leading-edge inflatable (LEI) kites are morphing aerodynamic surfaces that are actuated by the bridle line system. Their design as tensile membrane structures has several implications for aerodynamic performance. Because of the pronounced C shape of the wings, a considerable part of the aerodynamic forces is redirected sideways and used for steering. The inflated tubular frame introduces flow recirculation zones on the pressure side of the wing. In this paper, we present wind tunnel measurements of a 1:6.5 rigid-scale model of the 25 ^m2 TU Delft V3 LEI kite developed specifically for airborne wind energy (AWE) harvesting. Aerodynamic forces and moments were recorded in an open-jet wind tunnel over wide ranges of flow conditions, including angles of attack from -11.6 to 24.5°, sideslip angles from -20 to 20°, and freestream velocities from 5 to 25 m^s-1. The wind tunnel measurements were performed with and without zigzag tape along the model's leading edge to investigate the possible boundary layer tripping effect of the stitching seam connecting the canopy to the inflated tube. At a Reynolds number of 5×¹⁰⁵, the addition of zigzag tape was found to reduce lift and increase drag, indicating a negative impact on aerodynamic performance. The rigid-scale model was manufactured to match the undeformed geometry employed in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations from the literature, rather than the unknown in-flight deformed geometry. A representative subset of the measurements was used to benchmark both these RANS and new vortex-step method simulations. Both computational methods successfully reproduced the measured trends under nominal operating conditions. While the post-stall discrepancy persists, excellent agreement was observed for lift, drag, and side force coefficients, with lift deviations remaining within the 10% range.

Airborne wind energy (AWE) is an innovative technology that differs from the operating principles of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs). It uses tethered flying devices, denoted as kites, to harvest higher-altitude wind resources. Kites eliminate the need for a tower but introduce a penalty in power generation since the kite has to spend part of its aerodynamic force to counter its weight. The differences between the two technologies lead to different scaling behaviours, and understanding these as well as the design drivers of AWE systems is essential for developing this technology further. To this end, we developed a multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimisation (MDAO) framework which employs models evaluating the wind resource, power curve, energy production, overall component and operation costs, and various economic metrics. This framework was used to design fixed-wing ground-generation (GG) AWE systems based on the objective of minimising the levelised cost of energy (LCoE). The variables used to define the system were the wing area, aspect ratio, tether diameter, and rated power of the generator. The framework was employed to find optimal system designs for rated power ranging from 100 to 2000 kW. The results show that kite mass, energy storage, and tether replacements are the key LCoE driving factors. Moreover, in contradistinction to HAWTs, the total lifetime operational costs are equal to or higher than the initial investment costs. This distribution of costs over the project's lifetime, rather than as a large upfront investment, could make it easier to secure project financing. The scaling results show that the LCoE-driven optimum lies within the 100 to 1000 kW system size. The reason for this is that the kite mass penalty increases the cut-in and rated wind speeds, reducing the capacity factor of the larger systems. Sensitivity analyses with respect to extreme scenarios considering technological advancements, financial uncertainties, and environmental conditions show that this optimum is robust within our modelling assumptions.

This study investigates the relationship between sound quality metrics (SQMs) and noise annoyance caused by airborne wind energy systems (AWESs). In a controlled listening experiment, 75 participants rated their annoyance on the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise (ICBEN) scale in response to recordings from in-field measurements of two fixed-wing and one soft-wing ground-generation AWES. All recordings were normalized to an equivalent A-weighted sound pressure level of 45 dBA. The results revealed that sharpness was the only SQM predicting participants' annoyance. Fixed-wing kites, characterized by sharper and more tonal and narrowband sound profiles, were rated as more annoying than the soft-wing kite, characterized by higher loudness values. In addition, the effect of some SQMs on annoyance depended on participant characteristics, with loudness having a weaker impact on annoyance for participants familiar with AWESs and tonality having a weaker effect on annoyance for older participants. These findings emphasize the importance of considering psychoacoustic factors in the design and operation of AWESs to reduce noise annoyance.

Airborne wind energy systems (AWESs) leverage the generally less variable and higher wind speeds at increased altitudes by utilizing kites, with significantly reduced material costs compared to conventional wind turbines. Energy is commonly harnessed by flying crosswind trajectories, which allow the kite to achieve speeds significantly higher than the ambient wind speed. However, the airborne nature of these systems demands active control and makes them highly sensitive to changes in wind conditions, making accurate wind measurements essential for steering the kite along its optimal trajectory. This paper presents an advanced sensor fusion technique based on an iterated extended Kalman filter (EKF) for state and wind estimation for AWESs. By integrating position, velocity, tether force, and reeling speed, this method provides accurate estimations of system dynamics, including kite orientation and tether shape. The estimates of the wind speed and direction are compared to lidar measurements, showing good agreement across various atmospheric conditions, with 10 min averaged root mean square error (RMSE) values below 1 m s−1 and 5°, respectively. The results demonstrate that this approach can effectively capture the transient dynamics of atmospheric wind using sensors typically already present in AWESs, making it suitable for supervisory control strategies and ultimately enhancing energy efficiency and system reliability across diverse atmospheric conditions.

Renewable energy for Mars habitats is of key interest for future crewed missions. However, the low solar irradiation and low atmospheric pressure on Mars pose serious challenges to exploiting these resources reliably. In this chapter, we investigate the technical feasibility of a soft-kite-based airborne wind energy system and its potential to power a subsurface Mars habitat in combination with photovoltaics and short-term electrical storage. We propose a soft kite for its high surface-to-mass ratio, compact packing volume, adaptability to the available wind resource, and, thus, high capacity factor. First, the siting of the habitat is outlined, and the wind resources are quantified in terms of the wind speed probability distribution at the operational height of the system for different seasonal periods. Then, a performance model for the pumping cycle operation is developed to compute the power curve of the airborne wind energy system. Combining this with the wind statistics, a process for predicting the electricity yield at the habitat location is developed, which is then used to size all components of the hybrid power system to meet the continuous electrical power demand of 10 kW of the envisioned habitat.

The flexible-membrane kite employed by some airborne wind energy systems uses a suspended control unit, which experiences a characteristic swinging motion relative to the top of the kite during sharp turning manoeuvres. This paper assesses the accuracy of a two-point kite model in resolving this swinging motion using two different approaches: approximating the motion as a transition through steady-rotation states and solving the motion dynamically. The kite is modelled with two rigidly linked point masses representing the control unit and wing, which conveniently extend a discretised tether model. The tether-kite motion is solved by prescribing the trajectory of the wing point mass to replicate a figure-eight manoeuvre from the flight data of an existing prototype. The computed pitch and roll of the kite are compared against the attitude measurements of two sensors mounted to the wing. The two approaches compute similar pitch and roll angles during the straight sections of the figure-eight manoeuvre and match measurements within 3°. However, during the turns, the dynamically solved pitch and roll angles show systematic differences compared to the steady-rotation solution. As a two-point kite model resolves the roll, the lift force may tilt along with the kite, which is identified as the driving mechanism for turning flexible kites. Moreover, the two-point kite model complements the aerodynamic model as it allows for computing the angle of attack of the wing by resolving the pitch. These characteristics improve the generalisation of the kite model compared to a single-point model with little additional computational effort.

Flexible membrane wings for kite sports, paragliding and airborne wind energy are highly manoeu vrable aerodynamic devices. The manoeuvrability can be quantified by the achievable turning rate of the wing and the dead time between the steering input and the actual flight dynamic response. In this paper, we present an onboard sensor system for measuring the position and orientation of a tethered membrane wing and complement this with an attached low-cost multi-hole probe for measuring the relative flow velocity vector at the wing. To ensure well-defined flow conditions and high quality of the measurement data, the wings selected for testing were towed by a vehicle with a constant speed along a straight track during periods of low ambient wind speeds. A flight control algorithm was adapted from the literature to execute automated, repeatable figure-eight flight manoeuvres and measure the steering gain and the dead time as functions of the steering input. The experimental study confirms the turning behaviour known from kite sports and airborne wind energy applications and provides reproducible quantitative data to develop and validate simulation models for flexible, tethered membrane wings

Airborne wind energy is an emerging technology that uses tethered flying devices to capture stronger and more steady winds at higher altitudes. Compared to smaller systems, megawatt-scale systems are substantially affected by gravity during flight operation, resulting in power fluctuations. MegAWES, a 3 MW reference model, experiences power fluctuations between -5.8 MW and +20.5 MW every 12.5 seconds during the traction phase when using its baseline controller at a wind speed of 22 m/s. The baseline controller does not have a power limit, leading to high peak power, and aims to keep the tether force constant, causing it to consume power when the kite is flying upwards. In this paper, we implement an optimal torque controller in the MegAWES framework and show that this eliminates the power consumption during the traction phase. Furthermore, we propose a kite tether force controller that allows setting a power limit when combined with the 2-phase reeling strategy, which decreases the peak power. Our new architecture reduces the power output range by 75% to between +3.7 MW and +9.4 MW in strong wind conditions.

This paper presents a quasi-steady simulation framework for soft-wing kites with suspended control unit employed for airborne wind energy. The kites are subject to actuation-induced and aero-elastic deformation and are described by a coupled aero-structural model in a virtual wind tunnel setup. Key contributions of the present work are a kinetic dynamic relaxation algorithm and a procedure to define a physically consistent initial state. For symmetric actuation, the kite is pitch-statically stable and the simulations converge to a static equilibrium state. Most soft-wing kites are not roll-statically stable and do not find a static equilibrium without a symmetry assumption, as this introduces non-zero roll- and yaw moments. Another important contribution is the introduction of a steady circular flight state that enables convergence without a symmetry assumption. By neglecting gravity, the kite can fly in a perfectly circular turning motion around the wind vector with a constant radius and constant rotational velocity without requiring active control input. In an idealized wind-aligned tether case, the difference in aerodynamic- and centrifugal force application centers makes it impossible to achieve both a force- and moment equilibrium. This was resolved by including an elevation angle that introduces a radial tether force component, which introduces a centrifugal and aerodynamic force difference. Therefore, an operating point with roll equilibrium can be found where the kite finds a static equilibrium, enabling the first quasi-steady simulations of turning flights. Simulated quantifications of soft-wing kite turning behavior, i.e., turning laws, contribute to better kite- and control design.