Scientific Evidence Spurs Airborne Wind Energy Industry Race to Top

A recent study by renown climate scientists validated the enormous power available in high altitude winds. Cristina Archer, Ph.D., of Chico State University and Ken Caldeira. Ph.D., of the Carnegie Institution of Washington published a study in the journal Energies. The study confirmed that the strength and consistency of winds dramatically increase with altitude. This seminal study provides critical scientific data necessary to support the RD&D of airborne wind energy.

For decades, scientists and entrepreneurs have sought methods to extract energy from jet stream winds. Now the dreams of the early high-altitude wind energy pioneers are close to becoming reality as a new generation of entrepreneurs armed with scientific data and recent technological gains in power electronics, system controls and aeronautics takes up the challenge. Academics and entrepreneurs from around the world are racing to claim technological leadership in this arena.