Makani CEO, Corwin Hardham said, “Makani’s technology can lead to the widespread deployment of clean energy to foster economic growth and energy security. We are delighted to be working with the Department of Energy to realize this future. The DOE has shown great leadership in developing this program and supporting advanced energy research.â€Â
In a press release referring to Makani and the other recipients Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was quoted as saying, “By investing in transformative ideas now, we are laying the foundation for a new clean energy future. The ARPA-E program is helping to ensure U.S. leadership in science and technology, restore our global competitiveness, and create thousands of jobs.â€Â
The ARPA-E selection process includes a rigorous review by an expert panel of the technical and commercial aspects of each submission. Makani was one of over 5,000 applicants to the first year’s solicitations and one of less than ten renewable energy generation technologies to receive the grant award.
The Makani Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) converts wind energy into grid quality, utility-scale electricity using tethered, high-performance wings outï¬Âtted with turbines, and promises to revolutionize the way energy is extracted from the wind. Like the tip of a conventional wind turbine blade, the wing flies crosswind in a circular pattern at many times the speed of the wind. Power is extracted by the wing-mounted turbines and transmitted to the ground through an electrically-conductive tether. Because the wing is not constrained to rotate around a hub, it can sweep a much larger section of the sky than a conventional wind turbine and fly at a higher altitude where the wind is both stronger and more consistent. These advantages result in a system that delivers twice the energy of a conventional turbine of equal power rating (60% capacity factor for class 4 wind sites).
Makani’s tension-based design removes the necessity for a large tower and massive foundation, yielding a system that is less than 20% of the mass of a conventional turbine of equal capacity. Due to its low-wind performance, Makani’s AWT extends the developable terrestrial wind resource area by ï¬Âve times, to over 80% of the U.S. land surface, and promises to deliver energy at a cost 40% below that of conventional wind. Placing the turbines in the high-speed flow at the wing enables lightweight, direct-drive power generation and improves flight control through thrust and drag management. The Makani AWT can hover vertically to enable launching and landing and maintain elevation during lapses in wind or during turbulent conditions because the turbines may also be operated as propellers. The towerless design is well suited to offshore installations, allowing wind projects to be developed closer to demand centers, especially along the populous Eastern U.S. coast.
Since its inception in 2006, Makani has pioneered extended-duration tethered flight and continuous power generation during autonomous flight using small scale proof-of-concept prototypes. The ARPA-E grant, will help fund an 18-month R&D plan to demonstrate all operating modes including launch and land.