New Airship-style Wind Turbine for Constant Power
A new form of wind energy is under development, promising more consistent power and lower deployment costs by adapting the design of a dirigible, or zeppelin.
At 40% cheaper to build and deploy than a normal turbine, it presents the opportunity for a 30% lower cost for buying the wind energy.
- Suspended 1,000 feet up where the wind is always blowing
- Ideal energy source for rural communities, disaster areas, or places where wind turbines aren’t feasible to build
The design has grown through multilateral innovation by dozens of engineers and scientists, with MIT startup Altaeros and Beijing-based start-up Sawes Energy Technology producing prototypes.
In 2014, Altaeros’ Buoyant Air Turbine (or BAT) was ready for commercial deployment in rural Alaska, where diesel generators are still heavily relied on for power.
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Author's summary: New airship-style wind turbine promises cheaper power.