Good Idea .
1 But why not mount wind turbines on top of tall buildings.
2 Put air shaft on them say from the second floor to next to the last floor
The air flow would help clear air and generate power plus help clear ground air.

J

Well, this like many other non-burning, energy generation concepts look good on paper. However, if you run tethers a mile into the air - that's 5,280' remember - has anyone considered the pitch that length of tether would generate? The pitch of the tether line would greatly increase the 'affected area', ripe for conflict with anything existing in or entering that air space.

Power generation must be done within a reasonable distance of its user base, otherwise the losses associated with transmission and the costs of the transmission would negate the savings potential.

No urban area would support the inclusion of such a device within a 50-100 mile radius. And in most areas of the world, this radial distance would most certainly cancel the viability due to the conflicting proximity with other urban and rural areas also not wanting such conflict with their air space.

Thus, this is not a viable answer for anything but the most remote of locations.

I also have serious doubts that any radar device could possibly provide adequate detection and avoidance protection again mid-air collision with an airplane, let alone birds.

This idea needs to be archived under 'Nice idea, but utterly impractical'.

net500cg

Just from the artists rendition, I can see that the Kite generator won't fly due to equal force being applied to all axis's of the rotor. All it could do is yank the whole thing out of the ground. I believe that windmills are the best, most viable wind generators available for the forseeable future.

The idea is patently ridiculous. To start with, anyone that has ever sailed a boat knows that reversing or sailing against the wind is tricky involving the ability to tack, adjust the sails, numerous times. Additionally, extreme weather conditions such as rain where tons of water are going to coat the kites and tethers making them heavier. Electrical storms and wind sheer are two other potential and very real hazards.

Has anyone looked at the drawing? Based on that depiction, the kite generator would literally be pulled from the ground and not spin at all. Also, the idea that current radar technology can spot a single bird in flight is impossible. Even the largest winged bird would not show up on radar.

The idea may look good on paper but concept to reality is sometimes virtually impossible.

Vertical windmill farms with rotating heads in certain places in the world are a better bet for wind gathered energy generation. Places where the wind is constantly moving 95% of the time. Solar energy is a another resource and if we could tap into the world's ocean currents; everything could be run on electricity.

For those who say it can't work, they've already tested a small prototype - yes, it just used one kite, but it spun a generator, so it has a chance to work. Yes, large scale has problems small scale doesn't, but the prototype or proof of concept test at least indicates it is possible. I think it has limited use, but the company itself doesn't see it as a stand alone solution for all energy needs, but one that joins other methods (windmills, solar, etc)

http://sequoiaonline.com/blogs/img/mobilegen_cogne.jpg

I don't think it's that bad. Noone can tell what's gonna happen in the future for sure and noone can stop the advance of technology. Two centuries ago, they said that locomotives could never outrun horses. A century ago, they didn't believe in long distance travel by air. Half a century ago, spacecrafts were still concepts in Scifi novel. Now they have all come true. True that there are a lot of technical difficulties in current stage, but as long as the idea is feasible, we'll eventually figure out a way to use it. There are places where power is needed but scarce, such as some isolated islands. Without strong ground winds, kites would be a much better option than either windmills or wave generators. Anyways, don't rule out the possibility so quick. Keep an open mind. Maybe, we can see something like those floating architectures in Asgard homeworld in the near future.

This seems like a very good idea, with only one flaw that I can see: Kites when pulled by high winds don't rotate, they continue to pull in the direction of the wind.

This is a good idea but in this configuration, it wouldn't work. The wind force on one side of the 'wheel' would counter act the opposite side. It wouldn't spin.

Many people have said that this thing wont spin because the kits on each side will cancel each other out and just pull up. This is because you did not read the article which stated the base station can control the direction and angle of the kites so that the kits that are traveling upwind dont drag as much as the kites traveling dowenwind pull. there is the tinyest chance that the engeneers designing this are not completely retarded as you assume for no reason.

I think KiteGen is an awesome idea. Even if it doesn't work, at least people are trying to do something, and this something looks promising. I'm sure people thought nuclear power was a crazy idea before it was harnessed. Forward thinking people and businesses are exactly what this world needs! I'm sure the scientists and/or inventors who dreamed this concept up are smart enough to take into account the potential problems and hazards associated with such a venture. Stealth aircraft use radar transmitters when flying in non-threatening environments, and I'm sure rigging up a transmitter to KiteGen is a feasible option. At the very least, we will learn something from it!

One comment for all: GO FLY A KITE

a more specific comment, go and learn how to fly a Stunt Kite, the ones with two strings, even better, the ones with 4 strings. You will quickly realize the control that can be achieved and start thinking more clearly about what this device can do. Kite surfers already figured this out.

These Issues brought up are valid, and I would like to see what Kitegen has in mind about them:

what to do with rain, lightning, snow storms.

Birds are not a problem, they have their own eyes.
Planes fly much higher, and they would certainly know that there is a Kite power plant near by.

all are welcome to email me charles32co at yahoo
since I don't read this web page too often.

the simple artists rendering doesn"t show how the kites move in a figure 8 so they pull 80% of the time. i'm a skydiving pilot into hydrogen as an energy carrier. kite gen operates at 3000 ft.and works. if we can put us into space and build nuclear junk i think we can keep a couple of lousy kites up.

the simple artists rendering doesn"t show how the kites move in a figure 8 so they pull 80% of the time. i'm a skydiving pilot into hydrogen as an energy carrier. kite gen operates at 3000 ft.and works. if we can put us into space and build nuclear junk i think we can keep a couple of lousy kites up.