Vertical Airborne Wind Energy Farms with High Power Density per Ground Area based on Multi-Aircraft Systems

This paper proposes and simulates vertical airborne wind energy (AWE) farms based on multi-aircraft systems with high power density (PD) per ground area. These consist of many independently located that are flying at the same inclination angle, but different tether lengths, such all aircraft fly in a large planar elliptical area is to tethers. The individual assigned non-overlapping flight cylinders depending direction. Detailed calculations take into account Betz’ limit, assuming cubically averaged 7 m/s, give potential yearly average PD 43 MW/km2. A conventional farm typical packing would yield 2.4 MW/km2 field. More refined simulations using optimal control result more modest 6.5 for practically recommended trajectories. can already be achieved small-scale wing span 5.5 m. additionally show achievable than an order magnitude higher single-aircraft AWE system span.