ATALOG – Independent fully automated Airborne Wind Energy System

The Project
Objective
Partner
Funding
Project period 15.10.2012 – 30.11.2014

Currently the hub heights of wind turbines are limited to 150m. The new flight control system works in higher altitudes and due to the higher wind speeds it promises a higher yield.

The system will be mounted on a mobile vehicle or container and starts, operates and lands independently. Based on the use of upper winds the airborne wind energy system on shore will be as highly productive as usually only offshore systems. For the autarkic operation the system an automatic starting and landing mechanism will be developed. The new semi-rigid and semi-flexible kite under development will be made of innovative, composited carbon reinforced plastic materials and high-end textiles.

Because of the novelty of this system a fundamental part of this project will be the development of an operational concept and the identification of the operational technology that comply with regulations.

The Reiner Lemoine Institute supports the cooperation project in all aspects of acceptance, performance, risk assessment and the adaption of certification guidelines for autonomous kite systems.

The research includes:

– shadow casting, noise pollution, security risks, land use
– wind availability, wind data – propositions for necessary starts and landings
– extreme wind events, thunderstorms and specification for the operation
– requirements for the registration and certification and development of IEC equivalent certificates for kite wind energy

Overall goal is the development of a technologically new, autarkic starting and landing, sensor-equipped, semi-rigid kite system for airborne wind energy for the profitably of 30 kW up to 100 kW for altitudes up to 300 m.