Electric power generation in wind farms with pumping kites: An economical analysis

M. De Lellis, A.K. Mendonça, R. Saraiva, A. Trofino and Á. Lezana

Renewable Energy, 2016, vol. 86, issue C, 163-172

Abstract: The main contribution of this paper is to indicate the economical viability of a Pumping Kite (PK) system as an airborne wind energy approach for large-scale electricity generation. In our study case a 2 MW PK unit is compared to a horizontal-axis 3-bladed Wind Turbine (WT) of same rated power. The PK airfoil area corresponds to the area of the 3 blades, and the same aerodynamic characteristics were assumed. The PK capacity factor obtained is 45 %, compared to 31 % of the WT. Given conservative PK cost estimates we found the investment in a PK-based wind farm can be 74 % of that in a conventional wind farm. By adding 13 PKs to an existing wind farm with 21 WTs the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) practically doubles, whereas if each WT is replaced by a PK, the IRR is approximately multiplied by 3. We also show that PK wind farms can be economically attractive in locations where WTs are not.

Keywords: Airborne wind energy; Pumping kite; Wind energy economics; Wind turbine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:86:y:2016:i:c:p:163-172

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.08.002

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