Bristol Uni expert leads the race to harness electricity from drones

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie set in the future, but a scientist at the University of Bristol is researching the incredible-sounding idea of ​​harvesting the power of the wind by sending tethered drones high into the sky.

It works, but if it proves effective enough it could be a game changer for renewable energy and see onshore wind turbines complemented by the emerging field of ‘Airborne Wind Energy Systems’.

The idea is that, like a kite, the drone is pulled higher into the air, the higher it rises, by the wind. It is tied to the ground, and as the drone is pulled higher, the connecting cable is pulled through it, driving a generator and producing electricity. A slight change in the drone’s aerodynamics can bring it lower, before going higher again and repeating the process.

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One of the leading experts in this technology in this country is University of Bristol Flight Dynamics and Control Lecturer Dr Duc H Nguyen. It has just secured a £375,000 grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to carry out further research on the idea.

“Airborne wind energy has enormous potential and is predicted to generate €70 billion worth of electricity per year by 2050,” he said. “However, it is still a developing technology. In many cases, a compromise was made: new models were quickly implemented for test flights before their flight characteristics were fully understood.

“This prevented many AWES prototypes from reaching full operational capability, leading to the early termination of the program and preventing commercialization. This project tries to address this challenge by using fork and continue methods,” he added.

“By replacing existing techniques with bifurcation methods, AWES can achieve significant cost savings and improved performance that will ultimately bring this technology closer to commercialization,” he added.

The research at the University of Bristol will be carried out in collaboration with researchers in Madrid and Norwegian firm Kitemill, who are trying to develop a way to make the technology work and commercialize the idea.

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“The successful initiation and funding of this AWES project represents an important development in the renewable energy sector,” said Kitemill co-founder Thomas Hårklau. “AWES technology, with its exceptional material efficiency and higher energy yields, has the potential to become a dominant force in the energy industry.

“We are delighted to partner with Duc Nguyen and Bristol University on this initiative. This project not only advances the UK’s net zero mission, but also ensures British competence in this emerging sector. Together, we aim to address today’s challenges and pave the way for the commercialization of AWES,” he added.