Ocean Kite Energy

Roadmap to Renewable Wind Energy: Harnessing the Power of Kite Sailing

When it comes to the design of OKE technology, numerous considerations come into play. First and foremost, usability and user experience are of utmost importance. The technology must be intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring a seamless experience for users.

1) Why Kites?

  • Kite power systems have a larger swept area due to their larger radius, resulting in four times the power generation. They can access more powerful winds at higher altitudes, where the winds are stronger and more consistent. This level of access is not easily achievable with conventional wind turbines due to their fixed height, giving kite power a significant advantage in energy capture.

  • Kite power systems require no mast or deep foundations, significantly reducing the amount of material needed for construction and operation. This not only makes the technology more sustainable but also eliminates the need for a large support industry. Furthermore, the economic efficiency of kite power is evident as it is more cost-effective to replace kites than traditional turbine blades.

  • Kite power technology optimizes energy generation by focusing on the most productive sections of the blade. With only 25% of the blade being used, kite power efficiently harnesses wind energy, maximizing output while minimizing the system's footprint and resource use.

  • The design and operation of kite power systems are inherently portable and adaptable. This flexibility allows for the technology to be deployed in various settings and applications, providing a versatile energy solution that can be tailored to meet specific needs and environments. Whether powering a remote community or integrating into a larger grid, kite power offers adaptable solutions for diverse energy requirements.

Kites or Traditional Wind Turbines?

Kites

Traditional

2) Why Choose Ground-Based Control over RC?

  • Operational Safety: OKE minimizes risks by keeping sensitive and costly hardware on the ground.

    Cost-Effective Maintenance: Easy replacement and recycling of kites at the end of service life.

    Financial Stability: Designed to mitigate financial impacts from system failures or unexpected events.

  • Increased Investment: Airborne components, as seen in Google's Makani Project, significantly raise the kite-plane's weight and cost.

    Financial Risk: Higher initial investment and amplified financial risk in case of crashes or failures.

  • Bird Collisions: Can cause equipment damage.

    Lightning Strikes: Pose a risk to airborne electronic components.

    Tether Breakages: Lead to loss of control over the kites.

    Signal Loss: Can result in operational failures.

  • Airborne Systems Loss: Crashes with rigid flying generators lead to substantial financial losses due to expensive components.

    Minimal Loss with Ground-Based Kites: These kites are replaceable and recyclable, making replacements cost-effective and straightforward.

    Investment Protection: Ground-based kites offer a financially low-risk solution, safeguarding investments against operational mishaps.

Ground-Based or Airborne Control?

Ground Control

Airbourne Control

3) Why Conduct Research Through Sport?

  • Research through Racing: In maritime applications, having intuitive feel and feedback is essential. For sailboat racing, where the use of accumulated power is often against the rules, manual operation becomes crucial.

  • OKE's ground-based system provides flexibility with manual, semi-automatic, and automatic control modes, allowing operators to select the appropriate level of control for each situation.

  • Work along side people who know the wind best. Use them, they want to go faster and push the limits.

    Sailors, Kite surfers and now Kite Boaters can improve the algorithm for automated flight

    Opportunity Testers in rigorous environments

    Ground control options are designed to sustain control during unexpected power losses, ensuring uninterrupted and reliable operation.

  • OKE's ground-based control system offers optional mechanical overrides, allowing for immediate intervention in emergencies, enhancing the system's safety and reliability.

Manual Handling Option or Exclusively Remote Control?

Manual Option

Remote Control

4) Why “Any Kite Philosophy”?

  • Universal kites offer the advantage of interchangeability. They are designed to be compatible with various systems, providing flexibility and reducing the dependency on a single manufacturer or kite design.

  • With the use of universal kites, swapping kites becomes a hassle-free process. Users can easily replace or interchange kites without the need for specialized knowledge or tools, facilitating quick adjustments to the system as needed.

  • Specialized or proprietary kites come with a significant price tag due to their unique design and technology. These kites are often tailored for specific systems, making them more expensive to produce and replace.

  • The design of universal kites allows for incremental improvements and adaptations without a complete overhaul of the system. This approach not only enhances the system's performance over time but also spreads out the costs, making it a financially viable option for users.

Custom Kites or Standardized Kite

“Fly any kite”

Specialized Kites

5) Why Portable Design?

  • With climate variations, our device is effortlessly movable, ensuring consistent energy production in optimal wind conditions. Its adaptability makes it a reliable energy solution amidst changing climate patterns.

  • The outboard sail supports scalable and incremental growth, allowing for gradual enhancements and improvements over time without significant overhaul or replacement.

  • With the movable outboard sail, any boat can be instantly transformed into a sailboat without the need for complex modifications or installations.

Portable & Lightweight vs Fixed & Heavy

Portable

Fixed & Heavy

6) Why Extra Degree of Control?

  • The idea of transforming a wind turbine blade into a kite combines principles from both wind turbine technology and airborne wind energy systems, potentially opening up new avenues for wind energy harvesting.

  • Rotating one line around the other is a simplified control solution, aiding in harnessing the natural shape and motion of the rotating kite for optimized energy capture.

  • The necessity to initiate specific flight patterns for untwisting lines is inefficient. Thanks to technological advancements, kites can now execute continuous loops and figure 8's freely, without the need for corrective patterns. This freedom in movement results in efficient and unrestricted flight paths, maximizing energy generation.

  • The kite design strategically avoids the use of slip rings and their associated problems. Slip rings are known to be fragile and maintenance-intensive. By eliminating them, the design ensures that kites can perform continuous loops and figure 8's reliably, with significantly reduced maintenance requirements and downtime.

Portable & Lightweight vs Fixed & Heavy

Portable

Fixed & Heavy

7) OKE: Combining Steps 1-6

  • Step 7 is where everything comes together. We've taken the best parts from the first six steps to create a kite energy system that's both innovative and practical.

    At OKE, we use advanced kites to capture the (1) wind's power. These kites are managed by our (2) ground control system, making sure everything runs smoothly and safely. We've designed OKE to be flexible, with (3) three different control modes: manual, remote, and automatic. Our (4) 'Fly Any Kite' approach means you're not limited to a specific kite design – you can use any kite you like. Plus, our system is (5) easy to move, so if the wind changes direction or there's a shift in climate patterns, you can relocate with ease. And with our (6) anti-twist technology, the kites rotate continuously without getting tangled, ensuring a steady flow of energy.

    Want to support and learn more about OKE's journey? Join our Patreon, sign up for our mailing list, and follow us on social media."

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