SBIR-STTR Award

The Windlift MPWES will utilize proven principle of airborne wind energy to improve the energy density of man portable renewable energy systems by an more than an order of magnitude relative to existing systems such as the Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy Network System (GREENS) project. The MPWES system will deploy a 75 lb., tethered quadcopter coupled to a 145 lb., 10kW-hr battery pack capable of generating 7.5 kW (peak) and 1.7 kW (average).

Benefit:
When completed, the MPWES will provide an unprecedented ability for mobile marine units to reduce fuel resupply needs. The projected specific power for the MPWES is 13 times greater than the GREENS system, whereas the solicitation was seeking a 2X increase. Clearly the MPWES represents a revolutionary, not evolutionary, improvement in capabilities. In the future, the technology could provide persistent surveillance and/or communications capabilities with only minor modifications to the hardware. The technology also has the capability to increase power output to 500 kW or more, which may provide an interesting capability for the military and definitely has applications for commercial grid electricity production, where we believe that it could produce electricity for a fraction of the cost of existing technologies.

Keywords:
,, wind energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Hybrid Electrical Systems, airborne wind energy

The Windlift Man Portable Wind Energy System (MPWES) will produce 6 kW of renewable energy while weighing only 440 lbs. The renewable energy density (W/lb.) will be approximately seven times greater than a state of the art solar system, as represented by the GREENS system which is currently deployed by the USMC. Significant optimizations are possible in future design spirals that will allow the system to be even more power dense. The elevated UAV, operating at a maximum altitude of 500 feet, also provides the opportunity for persistent surveillance and communications.

Benefit:
The underlying airborne wind energy technology may be applied to a plethora of government and private sector applications. The technology may be: Applied to the MEHPS system within the marine corps, Propagated to the US Army and other allied forces, Modified for ship power or propulsion, Updated for persistent naval or land border surveillance, Applied to off-grid power applications including disaster relief, remote mines, or island nations, or Redesigned for the production of commercial grid-scale power, most likely in the offshore environment

Keywords:
airborne wind energy, UAV, surveillance, renewable, Communications, GREENS, solar