Another alternative energy source?

There is a plan in the works that would enable a network of kites to generate a relatively enormous amount of power. It seems that a group associated with European Space Agency is developing a group of kites that would clime upwards of five miles into the sky. At that altitude the wind is extremely strong and these large kites could take advantage of that power. It's an interesting read and could possibly be workable.

news.scotsman.com...

Hmm, interesting... They could even spray the kites with photovoltaic paint to make them into Solar collectors too. Talk about innovative, and is much cheaper then orbital satellite designed to collect energy from the sun and beam it down to earth. Nice find!

They claim one Laddermill could generate 100 megawatts of electricity, compared with only a few megawatts from a conventional wind turbine.

[edit on 2-1-2005 by sardion2000]

Hey and with kites you've got a stopping point for a space elevator construction project, possibly even a power source for construction crews. It is no coincedence that suborbital tech is becoming big business, harder to shoot down from another country.

Originally posted by astral_ice
Hey and with kites you've got a stopping point for a space elevator construction project, possibly even a power source for construction crews. It is no coincedence that suborbital tech is becoming big business, harder to shoot down from another country.

Stopping Point? I dunno 'bout dat. I have read of concepts involving helium zeppelin platforms literally miles wide and a couple of stories tall "orbiting" at just under sub-orbit. Now that could be a good jumping off point.