This article summarizes the fundamental dynamics and control attributes and challenges faced by stationary and crosswind airborne wind energy (AWE) systems. AWE systems have undergone rapid and steady technological development over the past decade, with several organizations demonstrating basic economic and technical viability of their concepts. The theoretical and numerical analyses performed so far indicate that crosswind systems have the potential to achieve a power curve similar in shape to that of current commercial wind turbines, with rated power of 2–5 MW. The ongoing development activities are increasing the viability of the concept; yet, several technical issues remain and need to be addressed, to definitively show that this technology can be scaled up to industrial size. The expert analysis suggests that AWE technologies are at the dawn of their development, and there is significant untapped potential for the use of innovative solutions in multiple fields such as materials, power electronics, and aerodynamics, to tackle problems. These challenges present a wealth of opportunities for future, multidisciplinary research and development activities.
Electricity in the Air: Tethered Wind Energy Systems
Chris Vermillion received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2009 and received his undergraduate degrees in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2004. Immediately following his Ph.D. work, Chris worked on advanced automotive powertrain control, focusing on constrained optimal control approaches that simultaneously addressed the competing performance interests of fuel economy, emissions, drivability, and torque delivery. He is presently a Lead Engineer for Altaeros Energies and manages all of the dynamic modeling, control system design, software development, and embedded hardware development for Altaeros’ lighter-than-air wind energy system.
Lorenzo Fagiano received the Ph.D. in Information and Systems Engineering in 2009 from Politecnico di Torino. In 2005 he worked for Fiat Research Centre. From 2009 to 2010 he was a postdoctoral researcher at Politecnico di Torino. From 2010 to 2012 he was a visiting researcher at the UC Santa Barbara. He is currently a senior researcher at the Automatic Control Laboratory, ETH Zurich. He is recipient of the 2011 IEEE Transactions on Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award, of the ENI Award “Debut in Research” 2010, of the Maffezzoni prize 2009 and of a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship.
Vermillion, C., and Fagiano, L. (September 1, 2013). "Electricity in the Air: Tethered Wind Energy Systems." ASME. Mechanical Engineering. September 2013; 135(09): S13–S21. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2013-SEP-5
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