A Field Test for Kite-based Wind Power
WindLift, a North Carolina start-up, uses kite-surfing kites for mobile power generation
WindLift, a start-up located in Durham, North Carolina, is working on a way to supplement mobile diesel generators in places where the fuel is especially costly. But there's no turbine here. Rather, the company's "airborne wind energy" system taps higher-altitude breezes using a large kite.
David Schneider is a senior editor at IEEE Spectrum. His beat focuses on computing, and he contributes frequently to Spectrum's Hands On column. He holds a bachelor's degree in geology from Yale, a master's in engineering from UC Berkeley, and a doctorate in geology from Columbia.
Joshua J. Romero is a software developer and journalist. A former IEEE Spectrum senior editor, he holds a bachelor’s degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Arizona and a master’s in journalism from New York University.