This is the wrong approach even though it might be worth experimenting. The correct approach is Kitepower which is simply a kite with minimal electronics to steer and pull out a cable and power a winch. Much simpler and cheaper to build. This produces more power than windmills with far less resources.
EDIT: I guess the proper term is Crosswind kite power. Or maybe Rigid kite (airborne wind energy)
You could attach the kites to the blimp though? I'd imagine you could make the ground tether/power cable cheaper and lighter by using a heavier duty transformer with higher voltage, which would be more viable on the blimp. Then have the blimp spread out a fleet of kites when at correct altitude with simpler electronics.
Theoretically you could also have a wind powered airplane drawn by kites if there is a large enough difference in wind speed between air layers. A bit nuts though :D Like the airplane is pulled forward or powered by different speed or direction crosswind above or below the plane. Or maybe something like a tandem plane. But it's brain melting enough to implement this kite control software.
But the ultimate question is always €/kWh and how much embodied energy and material. A simple kite tethered to some deep screw foundation in the earth (or tree stump) is like almost nothing compared to a wind turbine with heavy foundation and tower that needs to resist far greater forces and be transported. This kite power, once you have a simple open design and open source software for electronics is almost low tech. All you do is fly a big kite and draw out a tether from a geared winch to produce electricity. Anyone could build like a 50 kW plant in their backyard which provides energy in the winter and different times than solar. You only need an electric motor as a winch, a simple "glider" drone and something like SoC computer or even just microcontroller. And sensors and wireless connection. The software is rather complicated with takeoff and landing and a standby hover mode right above the winch, and coordination with multiple of these kites.
One issue is regulations with air traffic so you can't fly these kites too high.
We literally have unlimited power for almost free. Unfortunately we don't live in a sane world.
How much would it cost per kWh and what could the density be of these generators be?
The original article has some details that Techradar forgot to copy:
The developers estimated that the costs of electricity generated at 3,000 metres would approach those of conventional ground-based wind power generation. At 9,000 metres, they said, the systems could operate for more than 8,000 hours a year, generating power at 0.03 yuan – less than half a US cent – per kilowatt-hour.
So it's the capacity factor that makes it viable. Makes sense.
Where did they get the helium? We need to embargo it as the US has the single largest strategic supply of helium on the planet.
Thats why helium balloons are so cheap. Technically it should be way more expensive.
I honestly don't get why they don't just use hydrogen for unmanned blimps like that; better lift and can be produced relatively cheaply on site via electrolysis. And with modern membrane materials the fire risk is minimal.
Probably a regulation issue only 🤦
It's probably because it's safer as an experimental proof-of-concept.
Hydrogen leaks extremely easily, and there are large amounts of electricity going through it because of power generation, static electricity from wind in certain conditions, and, in case of hydrogen, electrolysis. All of this can be managed safely, but it takes a lot of blind faith in the engineers to assume it will all be managed safely on the first go.
If this one burned down in the most predictable way imaginable, the bureaucrats that greenlit it will look bad and the project will likely be delayed or canceled.
But if this one works, they can (request state permission to) develop a second design that uses hydrogen, and when that design works well they can start mass producing those without dependence on natural gas extraction.
You could go the SpaceX route and build multiple designs that you expect to fail catastrophically so you can get to building ones that work faster, but that takes a lot of faith from the people funding you, and a lot of willingness to generate pollution.
Yes, and these blimps are something where the optics are VERY important to getting funding. Its not a rocket where blowing up is the expectation.
Its china, you really think they have regulations? And if they did they would be enforced if the system is making money?
But I agree, hydrogen is way cheaper and more efficient for unmanned dirigibles. Also I wonder how well it would burn at super high altitude w/ the limited oxygen?
And even if it did burn the fire would be out well before it hit the ground. Not like the Hindenburg that was low to the ground and its outer coating was massively flammable.
Fun Fact: The reason why they had to use hydrogen was we (the US) clocked them as an enemy prior and refused to sell helium to them. Sound familiar?
Presumably from their natural gas operations, similar to everyone else.
Also had the largest strategic reserve, we sold it off during Obama and Trump pt I AFAIK
Why embargo it ? What does it accomplish ?
Its a strategic asset, the reason why it was stockpiled was for rocketry (nobel gas/low boiling point). So handing it to your enemy doesnt make a lot of sense to further their endeavors imo
Wait, China is an enemy now ? The West is historically responsible for climate change and its continued existence, how is it (and the US) not the enemy ? Are we going to solve anything if we still think in terms of good guys/bad guys ? I don't think that's a point of view that makes sense in a solarpunk space. I'm surprised to see that here.
I've been reading about floating wind turbines for decades. I just don't see how something that needs so much ongoing labor and maintenance will ever be financially viable. The avg. wind turbine installed in the US is now >3 MW. So even a 1/3 capacity factor will outperform this.
Google had Makani for years. The vulnerability to weather alone could not be surmounted.
I think the main advantage is that at a certain hight you always have some wind, so this is rather complementary to other forms of energy generation.
A mobile version like shown a few months ago could also be useful during emergencies and to help restarting and stabilizing the grid after large scale blackouts.
I had a feeling the kites might work.
Like its steel wire and a sail and it gets high into strong winds.
Looking like we might be best just going into overbuilding solar by 20x
Wind is great, mostly using conventional wind turbines. But it is still good to experiment with new power generation options.
Whats best is always regional.
Overbuilt solar is going to win at, say, the edge of the gobi desert.
But its not going to necessarily be practical at high latitudes, or locations with tons of rain/cloud cover, or places where geothermal is easy. And long distance power transmission is very difficult.
Everything about energy production and storage.
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