High Altitude Wind Power, Where, Who and Why
The fearsome concept of anything flying into such a kite should not limit the possibilities. These very same fear mongers would have us believe that a jumbo jet is an ever present danger because it might fall on their heads. Transponders that are powered from the EMF of the cable would be minuscule but effective in protecting the airspace... each pretending to be a jumbo jet flying at near zero speed in stacked formations. While the proof of concept needs to be scalar, access to reliable wind forces to make it economically viable in a test situation could be easily argued in a place like the South Island of New Zealand, positioned in the prevailing 'Roaring Forties'..(no need to reach jet stream heights) and has a mountain terrain, the Southern Alps that fuels both ridge lift and lenticular corridors of standing waves.
Such a craft, suggested by the author during an emerging renewable energy review, can be flown back to Terra firma and landed gracefully should wind/weather present a danger to its performance window. Or a tether malfunction and programed decent via auto-gyro.
On proof of concept a larger unit could be researched/tethered to Banks or Otago Peninsular.Again, well off air routes but smack in the middle of some of the highest speed and most reliable wind resources in the world.If research needs a ROI this is it.
Either location has a University at the bottom of its tether.!
Further, positioned here would mean it was off the flight path of everything but the most wayward aircraft and in an uncluttered sky.Such a project would compliment the South Island's hydro storage capacity and realise a 100% renewable potential. I called the applied concept "Project Kotuku" named after the rare white spirited heron (Egretta alba modesta) that flies over the Southern Alps, on the very same winds.
