Economic assessment of small-scale kite wind generators

The concept of extracting wind energy from high altitudes by means of pumping Kite Wind Generator (KWG) is considered. Basic formulas for evaluating the power output of the small-scale KWG and its optimal parameters are presented. Comparison of the KWG wind energy converter efficiency with the efficiency of conventional small-scale wind turbines is given. The ultimate conclusions are: 1) Specific ex-works cost of small-scale KWG increases with the kite area, and 2) Cost per installed capacity per kW increases with the rated power of the KWG. It is shown that kite wind generators are effective for stand-alone applications in remote or detached territories which have no access to electricity grid. In particular, the economic justification of the concept of using the KWG for water pumping is discussed.

[1]  Wai-Fah Chen,et al.  Handbook of Structural Engineering , 1997 .

[2]  S. Mathew.  Wind Energy: Fundamentals, Resource Analysis and Economics , 2006 .

[3]  Risto Silvennoinen,et al.  Asymptotic modeling of unconstrained control of a tethered power kite moving along a given closed-loop spherical trajectory , 2012 .

[4]  Roland Schmehl,et al.  Model-Based Efficiency Analysis of Wind Power Conversion by a Pumping Kite Power System , 2013 .

[5]  M. L. Loyd.  Crosswind kite power , 1980 .

[6]  Luca Delle Monache,et al.  Airborne wind energy: Optimal locations and variability , 2014 .

[7]  Lorenzo Fagiano,et al.  KiteGen : A revolution in wind energy generation , 2009 .

[8]  Paul Williams.  Optimal Wind Power Extraction with a Tethered Kite , 2006 .

[9]  Lorenzo Fagiano,et al.  Power Kites for Wind Energy Generation [Applications of Control] , 2007, IEEE Control Systems.

[10]  R. Swisher,et al.  Strong winds on the horizon: wind power comes of age , 2001, Proc. IEEE.

[11]  Erich Hau,et al.  Wind Turbines: Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics , 1999 .

[12]  M. L. Loyd,et al.  Crosswind kite power (for large-scale wind power production) , 1980 .

[13]  Jannis Heilmann,et al.  Economics of Pumping Kite Generators , 2013 .

[14]  Ivan Argatov,et al.  Energy conversion efficiency of the pumping kite wind generator , 2010 .

[15]  Derrel L. Martin,et al.  Economics of wind energy for irrigation pumping , 1980 .

[16]  M. Diehl,et al.  Optimal Control of Towing Kites , 2006, Proceedings of the 45th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control.

[17]  James F. Manwell,et al.  Book Review: Wind Energy Explained: Theory, Design and Application , 2006 .

[18]  Lorenzo Fagiano,et al.  Power Kites for Wind Energy Generation Fast Predictive Control of Tethered Airfoils , 2007 .

[19]  Cristina L. Archer,et al.  Global Assessment of High-Altitude Wind Power , 2008 .

[20]  M. Hand,et al.  Wind Turbine Design Cost and Scaling Model , 2006 .

[21]  F. X. Kromm,et al.  Tensile and creep properties of ultra high molecular weight PE fibres , 2003 .

[22]  Paul Gipe.  Wind Energy Basics: A Guide to Small and Micro Wind Systems , 1999 .

[23]  R. E. Wilson,et al.  Wind-turbine aerodynamics , 1980 .

[24]  R. Nolan Clark.  Irrigation Pumping with Wind Energy—Electrical vs. Mechanical , 1983 .

[25]  Ivan Argatov,et al.  Estimation of the mechanical energy output of the kite wind generator , 2009 .

[26]  Tore Wizelius,et al.  Developing Wind Power Projects: Theory and Practice , 2006 .

[27]  B.W. Roberts,et al.  Harnessing High-Altitude Wind Power , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[28]  Richard Mogg.  From rice to renewables: RE hybrid systems and research in Thailand , 2002 .

[29]  P. Williams,et al.  Optimal Cross-Wind Towing and Power Generation with Tethered Kites , 2007 .

[30]  D. Berg,et al.  Wind Energy Resources , 2007 .

[31]  Stephen Hobbs,et al.  A quantitative study of kite performance in natural wind with application to kite anemometry , 1986 .

[32]  Moritz Diehl,et al.  Nonlinear MPC of kites under varying wind conditions for a new class of large‐scale wind power generators , 2007 .

[33]  Ivan Argatov,et al.  Structural optimization of the pumping kite wind generator , 2009 .