Flying drones that generate power from wind are starting to get serious attention

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

Source: Portland Press Herald

One of the technology's advantages over conventional offshore wind turbines is the cost savings from not having to build foundations and towers.

Technology that uses flying drones to generate electricity from the wind is getting a boost from a German utility company, which is backing a test project that may show if it can help cut the costs of producing power offshore.

The machines stay airborne like kites to tap the energy of high-altitude wind currents. The force of the wind would push forward the drones, which would tug at a cable anchored to drive a power turbine. The technology still is in its early stages, with a handful of pilot projects around the world, including one bought up by Google parent Alphabet Inc. in 2013.

Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/04/11/flying-drones-that-generate-power-from-wind-are-starting-to-get-serious-attention/

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I thought this was a neat concept. There is a video about it at the link too.

[Midnight Writer]

1. There are a lot of evolutionary ideas in the energy industry that are not getting attention

I saw an article about wind "whips". They would plant in the ground, look like fields of wheat or prairie grass, and collect energy from the wind blowing them one way while they whip back the other way. Just like plants in the wind, while generating nearly twice the energy from a one way wind turbine.

Genius.

What an incredible idea.

And it looks, at least from the photos, like a scenic prairie field.

Now, years later, I cannot find any information about this or devices using the same concept.

[William Seger]

2. Call me a skeptic, but...

... I just don't see how you could get very much energy out of one of those.

[Midnight Writer]

3. You don't use one, You plant thousands, on a hillside or lakeshore. It looks like wild grass.

[William Seger]

4. I was referring to the drones

It seems like you'd need thousands of those to match a windmill farm, which doesn't seem very practical.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. It is practical if it is cost effective

They don't have to replace windmill farms in order to be very practical. It is a real question how widespread the use of this technology can become based on how much energy can be generated in locations suitable to their use. In a way the same can be said about hydroelectric, which often is extremely practical, but obviously only in certain locations.

[William Seger]

7. That's my point

I could be wrong, but it doesn't look to me like each one could produce enough electricity to justify its cost, especially since they look like high-maintenance machines to me.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Ram jets have been around a long time

Once you get them started and the ram (thus the name) air moving through them, they keep going until the air current stops.