Researchers are developing novel floating wind turbines that can generate affordable electricity for rural and off-grid areas.
The technology is being developed by researchers led by Ben Glass, inventor and CEO of the company Altaeros Energies, founded in 2010 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Glass has re-imagined the possibilities of balloon and airship technology to lift a wind turbine.
Most wind turbine manufacturers are competing to build taller turbines to harness more powerful winds above 500 feet.
In contrast, Altaeros' novel Buoyant Airborne Turbine - the BAT can reach 2,000 feet.
At this altitude, wind speeds are faster and have five to eight times greater power density. As a result, the BAT can generate more than twice the energy of a similarly rated tower-mounted turbine, researchers said.
The BAT's key enabling technologies include a novel aerodynamic design, custom-made composite materials, and an innovative control system.
The helium-inflatable shell channels wind through a lightweight wind turbine. The shell self-stabilises and produces aerodynamic lift, in addition to buoyancy.
Multiple high-strength tethers hold the BAT in place and a single conductive tether transmits power to a mobile ground station.
The BAT's automated control system ensures safe and efficient operation, the highlight of which is the capability to adjust altitude autonomously for optimal power output.
The first BAT model is approximately 15 by 15 meters, is containerised, and does not require a crane or foundation for installation, researchers said.
Diesel generators are the standard in power generation for rural and off-grid areas. However, diesel fuel is expensive to deliver to these locations, and diesel generators, though inexpensive to install, are expensive to operate and maintain.
As a result, remote customers typically pay more than 30 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity.
The BAT has the potential to bring affordable wind energy to these communities and industries. The first model will provide enough electricity for a small community, or about a dozen American homes.
Combined with significant increases in energy output and the ability to install the unit in 24 hours, the BAT substantially reduces the cost of energy and time to reach customers' energy needs.
In the future, Altaeros expects to deploy the BAT alongside first responders in emergency response situations when access to the electric grid is unavailable.
