To obtain a (if not the) viable AWES: having wind turbines on a LTA windpower like on http://www.ltawind.com/Main.php?lang=en then combine that with
The second link is on
https://forum.awesystems.info/t/an-alternative-method-to-tap-high-altitude-winds/949/14?u=pierreb
Some interesting points are:
Table 5 Reference photovoltaic plant considered for hydrogen production
and
12 Conclusions: Hydrogen, which can be produced on board, simplifies the management of airship during long missions.
For an AWES I think about photovoltaic panels covering the top of the envelope and ensuring the production of hydrogen to fill buoyant gas leaks by replacing it, and supplying the VTOL which uses the wind turbines on board.
And as additional significant feature: a stationary operation mode with a high elevation angle, allowing secondary use on the ground or the sea.
Such an AWES gathers proven elements from current wind turbines, tethered LTA
, wings, and photovoltaic plants.
We must also consider that no airborne wind turbine project has succeeded in spite of years of R&D and significant funding, and in particular the so-called “crosswind” systems, that due to several obstacles of which a lack of reliability preventing any serious secondary use, and also an efficiency decreased by cosine losses, by irregular (due to the place of the AWES in the window flight) and discontinuous operations, and difficulties for takeoff and landing operations…
So, for this new year, let us wish a new orientation of R&D for AWES.