Category: Cross-Sector, Generation, R&D Quick Hits, Technology Innovation

From Flying Wind Turbines to Robotic Birds of Prey

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Scouting Technologies That Fly, Float, and Focus

Yes, it’s true. Wind turbines can fly—or at least one prototype that is attached to a helium-filled blimp.

EPRI Innovation Scouts are investigating the airborne turbine, along with concepts and technologies spanning diverse aspects of wind power generation, including:

Enhanced towers, foundations, blades, rotors, generators, and other turbine components
Novel concepts for onshore and offshore turbines
Wind measurement devices
Turbine monitoring systems
Systems to transport heavy components
Offshore energy storage
Wildlife protection

Wind power costs and performance have improved significantly over the past decade, but many hurdles to mass deployment remain, such as siting constraints, high upfront capital costs, and adverse impacts on wildlife. Scouting reports point to many promising technologies to address these. Here’s a sample:

Photo courtesy of Vortex Developed by Vortex, these prototypes of bladeless cylindrical turbines generate electricity by oscillating in the wind.

Potential benefits: Reduced capital, maintenance, and generation costs relative to conventional blade turbines

Challenges: Lower energy harvest and conversion efficiency
Photo courtesy of GE This GE prototype bolts an aluminum dome to the rotor, deflecting wind to blade tips for greater power harvest.

Potential benefits: Higher power rating; enables shorter blades

Challenges: Impact of dome’s size and weight on turbine structure and installation
Image Provided by Prof. T. Ohta, Kyushu University The Research Institute for Applied Mechanics at Japan's Kyushu University uses a distinctive wind lens to draw more wind into offshore turbines. In this concept, multiple turbines can be deployed on floating platforms rather than seabed-mounted towers. Note that this image is synthetic.

Potential benefits: Increased power output; lower electricity costs

Challenges: Accurate control of the assembly's orientation to optimize the wind-focusing effect
Image courtesy of Nenuphar Nenuphar’s floating offshore turbine positions blades around a vertical shaft. Note that the image is a synthetic photograph; the turbine is a prototype and not yet installed offshore.

Potential benefits: Lower capital and installation costs relative to horizontal-axis turbines; generator positioned closer to sea level for greater stability and easier maintenance

Challenges: Developing commercial-scale units; long-term reliability and efficiency
Photograph courtesy of Altaeros Energies A prototype from Altaeros Energies attaches the turbine to a helium-filled, ground-tethered blimp to generate power from high-altitude, high-speed winds.

Potential benefits: Higher output and lower electricity cost relative to land-based turbines; no land-based siting constraints; no towers or heavy cranes needed for deployment; less risk to birds

Challenges: Developing commercial-scale units; long-term reliability; new regulatory framework required
Photograph courtesy of Clear Flight Solutions Developed by Clear Flight Solutions, this commercially available robotic bird of prey (peregrine falcon) is intended to keep birds away from wind turbines, preventing collisions.

Potential benefits: Reduced environmental impacts and resulting wind power curtailments

Challenges: Bird habituation to robots

When these and other emerging technologies are ready for field demonstration, EPRI will work with member utilities to assess their performance under actual operating conditions. Members who want more information on demonstration-ready technologies can contact techexpert@eprijournal.com.

R&D QUICK HITS

From Flying Wind Turbines to Robotic Birds of Prey

About The EPRI Journal

R&D QUICK HITS

From Flying Wind Turbines to Robotic Birds of Prey

About The EPRI Journal

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