Making and using a ground-based water brake AWES. The winch converts rotational energy into heat without the involvement of electricity, so off-grid, by using a water brake as a Joule machine replacing the ground-based generator. The storage is also assured with (hot) water. An AWES could heat one or several houses.
If a yo-yo AWES is used the intermittent use (reel-in and reel-out phases) is less problematic than with a generator, thanks to permanent heat storage. Only a motor or a spring is used to wind the tether.
Other ground-based AWES comprising rotary devices could also be used, such like Daisy or SuperTurbine ™.
Below is a link for complete explains by using a wind turbine of type Savonius. An easy adaptation could be made for AWES:
Some extracts:
Heat versus Electricity
On a global scale, thermal energy demand corresponds to one third of the primary energy supply, while electricity demand is only one-fifth. In temperate or cold climates, the share of thermal energy is even higher. For example in the UK, heat counts for almost half of total energy use. If we only look at households, thermal energy for space and water heating in temperate and cold climates can be 60-80% of total domestic energy demand.
Direct heat production is cheaper, more energy efficient, and more sustainable than indirect heat production.
The Water Brake Windmill
Heat generating windmills convert rotational energy directly into heat by generating friction in water, using a so-called “water brake” or “Joule Machine”. A heat generator based on this principle is basically a wind-powered mixer or impeller installed into an insulated tank filled with water. Due to friction among molecules of the water, mechanical energy is converted into heat energy. The heated water can be pumped into a building for heating or washing, and the same concept could be applied to industrial processes in a factory that require relatively low temperatures.