Equivalent sink rate of parachutes vs gliders

These data appear correct, but do not allow us to directly conclude on the respective measured effectiveness of power kites (paragliders) compared to parachutes, in yo-yo mode for power generation where tethered kites are implemented instead of free parachutes and gliders, leading to a different behavior.

Indeed other factors come: crosswind power kites face the “stop and go” (due to power variations within the flight window) drastically reducing the power produced, for an efficiency ratio that I have roughly estimated at 3 (power kite) to 1 (parachute) per surface area unit, comparing a power kite to a parachute kite of the same surface area.

This small difference could perhaps be corroborated by figure 15 which indicates 12 m/s wind speed at mast height while the text suggests much higher wind speeds at kite height, and also (in a lesser extent) to the Chinese parachute-based AWES compared to flexible crosswind kites like SkySails (figure 15 linked above) or Mutiny.

I do not think the difference is significant enough to justify the land and space use required by the crosswind power kite, as well as a complex control system, and greater fabric wear due to higher stresses.