Harnessing Airborne Wind Energy: Prospects and Challenges

This paper describes an analysis of airborne wind energy system (AWES) and its comparison with conventional wind energy conversion system. The study highlights key perspectives of the altitude wind data as observed in the global scenario and its impact on a continuous and sustainable power generation system that can be located anywhere on land due to higher availability of prime mover at altitudes. An effort is made to highlight all key points of this emerging technology and its benefit to under-developed, energy-deficit countries in South Asia. Moreover, cost analysis of AWES shows a tremendous reduction in financial budget for an equivalent production rate of electricity due to higher capacity of the airborne harvesters.