The Makani Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) is a tethered wing that generates power by flying in large circles where the wind is stronger and more consistent. It eliminates 90% of the material used in conventional wind turbines, and can access winds at higher altitudes and above deep waters offshore — resources that are currently untapped. Over the course of 2011, Makani Power built and tested its 30kW AWT prototype, known as Wing 7. This video is a compilation of several flight tests conducted over the last year. In this video the AWT can be seen launching from a perch, reeling out in hover mode, autonomously transitioning from hover into crosswind flight, flying crosswind to generate power and transitioning out of crosswind back into hover before it finally comes to rest on a perch again.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Experts in renewable energy are dismissing an incident where a wind turbine caught fire in gale force winds as a freak occurrence. The 100m tall turbine, at a wind farm close to a main road in North Ayrshire was destroyed after it exploded into flames. RenewableUK – the professional body for wind renewables industries – says wind turbines are regularly subjected to tough conditions without problem.
Video Rating: 3 / 5
