Latest news with #DelftUniversityofTechnology
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Science
- Express Tribune
'Let's go fly a kite'
On Ireland's blustery western seaboard researchers are gleefully flying giant kites -- not for fun but in the hope of generating renewable electricity and sparking a "revolution" in wind energy. "We use a kite to capture the wind and a generator at the bottom of it that captures the power," Padraic Doherty of Kitepower, the Dutch firm behind the venture, told AFP. At its test site in operation since September 2023 near the small town of Bangor Erris, the team transports the vast 60-square-metre (645,000-square-feet) kite from a hangar across the lunar-like bogland to a generator. The kite is then attached by a cable tether to the machine and acts like a "yo-yo or fishing reel", Doherty said. "It gets cast out and flies up, the tether pulls it back in, over and over again, creating energy," he said, testing the kite's ropes and pulleys before a flight. The sparsely populated spot near the stormy Atlantic coast is the world's first designated airborne renewable energy test site. And although the idea is still small in scale, it could yet prove to be a mighty plan as Ireland seeks to cut its reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. "We are witnessing a revolution in wind energy," said Andrei Luca, operations head at Kitepower, a zero-emissions energy solutions spin-off from the Delft University of Technology. "It took nearly 25 years for wind turbines to evolve from 30 kilowatt prototypes to megawatt scale, and decades to offshore wind farms we see today," he added. The system flies autonomously, driven by software developed at the university in the Netherlands, but Doherty acts as the kite's "pilot" on the ground, monitoring its flight path for efficiency. The kite flies up around 400 metres (1,300 feet) and reels in to about 190 metres, generating around 30 kilowatts for storage. AFP
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Science
- NZ Herald
Kite-powered energy test site aims to revolutionise wind sector with flexibility
The sparsely populated spot near the stormy Atlantic coast is the world's first designated airborne renewable energy test site. And although the idea is still small in scale, it could yet prove to be a mighty plan as Ireland seeks to cut its reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. 'We are witnessing a revolution in wind energy,' said Andrei Luca, operations head at Kitepower, a zero-emissions energy solutions spin-off from the Delft University of Technology. 'It took nearly 25 years for wind turbines to evolve from 30 kilowatt prototypes to megawatt scale, and decades to offshore wind farms we see today,' he added. The system flies autonomously, driven by software developed at the university in the Netherlands, but Doherty acts as the kite's 'pilot' on the ground, monitoring its flight path for efficiency. The kite flies up around 400m and reels in to about 190m, generating around 30kW for storage. The force spins 'like a dynamo on a bike', Doherty said, adding that 'it generates up to two and a half tonnes of force through each turn'. The electricity is stored in batteries, similar to solar photovoltaic systems, with the kite currently able to fully charge a 336kWh battery. 'That's a meaningful amount of energy, sufficient for powering a remote outpost, a small island, polar station, or even a construction site,' Luca said. 'Add additional kites and we can power a bigger island.' 'Mobile, flexible' According to Doherty, a chief advantage of the kite system is its flexibility and swift start-up capability. 'We can set up in 24 hours and can bring it anywhere, it's super mobile, and doesn't need expensive, time- and energy-consuming turbine foundations to be built,' he said. A kite system is 'way less invasive on the landscape [than wind turbines], produces clean energy and doesn't need a supply chain of fuel to keep running', Luca added. During January's Storm Eowyn, which caused widespread and long-lasting power outages in Ireland, the system showed its value in Bangor Erris, according to Luca. 'Paired with a battery, it provided uninterrupted electricity before, during and after the storm,' he said. Ireland's wind energy sector has long been touted as full of potential. But progress on large-scale delivery of onshore and offshore turbines has been held up by planning delays and electricity grid capacity constraints. The Irish Government has set ambitious targets for offshore wind energy to deliver 20 gigawatts of energy by 2040 and at least 37 gigawatts by 2050. In 2024, Irish wind farms provided around a third of the country's electricity according to Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), a lobby group for the sector. This compares to Britain where, according to trade association RenewableUK, wind energy from the country's combined wind farms first reached 20GW in November 2022. The ability of airborne wind energy (Awe) systems to harness high-altitude winds with relatively low infrastructure requirements 'makes them particularly suitable for remote, offshore or mobile applications', Mahdi Salari, an Awe researcher at University College Cork, told AFP. But he said Kitepower would face challenges on 'regulation, safety, and system reliability'. Such technology however could plug gaps in places where 'land availability, costs or logistical constraints hinder the deployment of traditional wind turbines', Salari said. By the 2030s, he said: 'I expect Awe to contribute meaningfully to diversified, flexible and distributed renewable energy networks'. -Agence France-Presse
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
F1 chiefs in race against time to fix Circuit Zandvoort for Dutch Grand Prix after storm
A storm in the Netherlands on Monday saw the Circuit Zandvoort flooded, with an alarming photo posted on social media just six weeks before the Dutch Grand Prix Heavy rain battered the Netherlands on Monday, flooding the Circuit Zandvoort, where next month's Dutch Grand Prix will take place. A storm caused flooding in the coastal town, with reports of 50 centimetres falling at the start of the week. Streets in the centre of the town have been flooded, with the fire department and police forced to pump the excess water. Local reports said the town's water reservoir was full, meaning the reservoir by the Circuit Zandvoort was used as a back-up. An alarming picture was then posted on social media showing a huge channel of water cutting across the tarmac of the track. It shows lots of surface water, sand and debris on a corner, next to a giant grandstand for viewing. The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on the final weekend of August and at this stage there are no concerns about the flooded track, with no apparent damage to the infrastructure. The only impact it did have was to prevent local university students from using the track on Monday. NH News reported that a Delft University of Technology student team was due to test their hydrogen-powered race car there, but couldn't. Student Renzo Bootsma said: "Our car runs on hydrogen, but it can't handle that much water. It's a shame, because we were supposed to do our first longer test drive tonight." Meanwhile, F1 Academy was due to commence the first of two days of testing on Tuesday. Global warming means that flash flooding has become more and more frequent – and, like any industry, F1 has been affected. In March, the circuit in Jerez, Spain, was severely flooded, with the track that hosts MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix damaged as a result. And in May 2023, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy was cancelled after deadly flooding in the region. Rivers burst their banks, forcing people to evacuate their homes. A statement at the time read: "The decision has been taken because it is not possible to safely hold the event for our fans, the teams and our personnel and it is the right and responsible thing to do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region. It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time." F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali added: "It is such a tragedy to see what has happened to Imola and Emilia Romagna, the town and region that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected. "The decision that has been taken is the right one for everyone in the local communities and the F1 family as we need to ensure safety and not create extra burden for the authorities while they deal with this very awful situation."
NZ Herald
15-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
How aeroplane noise impacts health and hearing: What you need to know
Sensory cells in our cochlea – called hair cells for the tiny filament-like structures protruding from the top of their cell surface – bend to the sound waves that hit our eardrums and translate them into electrical signals that are sent to auditory regions of our brain allowing us to hear. Loud noise can physically damage the cochlea and overstimulate the sensory cells, which, if sustained over time, can harm or even kill them, leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss. Short bursts of extra-loud noise can also cause impairments. Humans and other mammals are unable to replace these hair cells once they are damaged or lost. According to a 2024 study, approximately 1 in 5 Americans have hearing loss, which is a leading cause of disability. Research shows hearing loss is a preventable risk factor for dementia. In addition, noise also has non-auditory health impacts including sleep disturbances, increases in hypertension and cardiovascular health, as well as cognitive impairment. The discomforts of noisy flights Inside an aeroplane cabin, the noise is typically around 75 to 85 decibels during flight, according to research studies that directly measured sound levels inside different passenger aircraft. During takeoff and landing, when the engines are most engaged, the sounds are often louder and can peak over 110 decibels at times. For comparison, normal conversations are around 60 decibels. However, the decibel scale used to measure sound levels is logarithmic, meaning that the amount of sound energy increases dramatically as we move up the scale. Every three-decibel increase corresponds to double the sound intensity reaching our ears. On jet planes, passengers cite noise as the second most influential factor for discomfort, after legroom (or lack thereof). On smaller propeller aircraft, noise is the No. 1 factor for discomfort, 'so it even has a larger impact,' said Gerbera Vledder, a graduate student of industrial design engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands who conducted a 2022 study on the matter. If you are stuck in a noisy environment for a longer period of time, 'you become more aware of other complaints' such as a stiff neck or swollen feet, Vledder said. And research shows that people disembark more tired than if noise were not a factor, she said. How much aircraft noise is safe? In 1972, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the US set sound exposure recommendations of 85 decibels averaged over an eight-hour shift for workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to protect workers' hearing if noise exposure exceeds those limits as well. However, emerging research calls for revising these recommendations 'because the effects of noise exposure on hearing loss may be more severe than previously understood,' Stankovic said. Some studies suggest people who work on commercial aeroplanes, such as pilots and flight attendants, could have increased rates of noise-induced hearing loss, though the results are not conclusive. 'I have to say there's not a lot of research on the risks of hearing loss in aeroplanes,' Vledder said. One 2014 study of more than 4000 flight attendants found that their self-reported hearing loss increased with time on the job. A 2018 study of 134 civilian pilots found they had worse hearing, especially for higher-frequency sounds, than people without that occupational noise exposure. Though it is often cited for the public, using the industrial standard 85-decibel noise exposure limit is 'always inappropriate,' Daniel Fink, programme chair of the Quiet Coalition, a programme of Quiet Communities, said in an email. 'It doesn't protect workers from [noise-induced hearing loss] and safe exposure levels for anything need to be safer for the public than occupational exposures,' said Fink, who has written on the links between noise and hearing loss. Research shows that even quieter levels of noise exposure – beneath the 85-decibel occupational recommendation – could impair hearing by altering how the auditory cortex processes sounds. 'Even lower levels of noise exposure, once deemed safe, can cause hearing damage over time' including making it more difficult to understand speech in noisy environments or tinnitus, Stankovic said. In addition, some people may also be more susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss because of older age, genetic factors or pre-existing health factors, Stankovic said. How to deal with noise on aeroplanes Whether you want to be more comfortable or lower the risk to your hearing, there are several ways you can deal with aeroplane noise, experts said. Measure your sound levels. You can measure noise levels on a plane with a free sound meter app on your smartphone, such as the NIOSH Sound Level Meter, Decibel Pro or Decibel X. Sit near the front. Your seat location makes a difference. Seats near the aeroplane engines, which are typically on the wings or rear of the plane, tend to be louder, Stankovic said. Stay hydrated. Flying is dehydrating, so make sure to get adequate fluids. This 'can alleviate discomfort, including ear pressure changes that may be worsened by noise,' Stankovic said. Try earplugs or headphones. Both can attenuate the amount of sound that reaches your eardrums, reducing the risk of harm and discomfort. One study found that having earplugs increased comfort – even when people did not use them. It could be that having a sense of control helped people feel better, Vledder said. Of course, actually putting them on is a good idea. In a 2025 study, Vledder and her colleagues found that passengers who used either earplugs or headphones were more comfortable on propeller aeroplanes. 'I always use noise-cancelling headphones when I fly,' Fink said. 'I recommend them for everyone, including children.' However, Vledder noted that wearing headphones and earplugs can be their own source of discomfort in or around the ears. 'I do think it's personal preference,' she said. Don't turn up the volume. Don't add to the problem by blasting more noise into your ears during the flight. In other words, be careful with how loud you play your music or movies, Fink said. 'I don't think flying is safe for the ear,' Fink said. 'Certainly not for cabin crew, and not for passengers either.'
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Riding the wind: How kite power is soaring above traditional energy solutions
In a remote field or windswept coast, it's not a turbine towering on the horizon that's generating power, but a kite, dancing high in the sky. This is the quiet revolution of Kitepower, a Dutch airborne wind energy (AWE) pioneer that's reimagining how we harness one of the Earth's most ancient forces: the wind. Founded in January 2016 by Johannes Peschel and Dr Roland Schmehl as a spin-off from Delft University of Technology's pioneering kite power research group, originally established by former astronaut and innovator Wubbo Ockels. The company's technology builds upon over a decade of academic research, including the development of the Laddermill concept in 1997—an early airborne wind energy design using multiple kites on a looped cable—and the successful demonstration of a 20kW kite power system in 2007. This academic foundation paved the way for Kitepower's streamlined, high-efficiency systems that use a single kite and advanced flight control to harvest stronger, more consistent high-altitude winds. Kitepower's system replaces the rigid infrastructure of wind turbines with a large inflatable kite tethered to a ground station. As the kite flies in figure-eight loops up to 500 meters above ground, it catches stronger, more consistent high-altitude winds. The tension generated pulls a cable from a drum on the ground, converting motion into electricity. Once the cable is fully extended, the kite glides back with minimal energy use, and the cycle begins again. 'We use up to 90% less material with the potential of being twice as efficient as conventional wind turbines with the same power output,' says Johannes Peschel, CEO and co-founder of Kitepower. Two models currently lead Kitepower's portfolio. The Falcon system delivers 100 kW of power and can generate approximately 450 megawatt-hours annually, enough to power around 150 homes. The smaller Hawk model provides 30 kW and is optimized for mobile and off-grid energy needs. Both systems are designed to be easily transportable and quick to deploy, making them particularly attractive for isolated or temporary sites. The technology has already proven itself across diverse geographies. In Aruba, the Falcon system was successfully deployed as part of a Dutch defence military exercise—the first use of airborne wind energy in the Caribbean. Kitepower has also established a dedicated test site in County Mayo, Ireland, in collaboration with energy giant RWE, to advance AWE systems under real-world conditions. Meanwhile, on La Gomera, one of Spain's Canary Islands, a pilot project is underway to evaluate how kite-based systems can provide reliable energy in fragile island ecosystems. Oman's exposed coastlines, desert interiors, and scattered rural populations make it an ideal landscape for airborne wind energy solutions. Islands like Masirah, with their consistent wind conditions, could host demonstration projects, especially in connection with adventure tourism, water desalination, or island electrification. In the inland deserts, mobile energy systems could support oil and gas operations, scientific expeditions, or military bases, reducing reliance on diesel generators and cutting fuel transport costs. At the same time, for eco-resorts, coastal lodges, or nature reserves where environmental impact must be minimized, kite power offers a low-footprint, low-noise, and visually unobtrusive alternative to conventional renewables. Importantly, the technology aligns well with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasizes the diversification of the energy sector, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-conscious innovation. Airborne wind systems could complement solar power to create hybrid microgrids in remote areas, enhancing energy resilience while supporting Oman's transition toward a greener economy. This technology is part of a new generation of cleantech firms looking beyond the traditional wind turbine model. Its mission is to 'contribute to a sustainable future by developing innovative and cost-effective airborne wind energy systems that are scalable and adaptable to a variety of environments.' As Oman and other nations accelerate toward net-zero targets, solutions like kite power offer not just innovation—but agility, flexibility, and real-world adaptability in the face of a changing energy landscape. Najah al Riyami The writer is a Media and Communication Master's graduate skilled in diverse writing formats, specialising in storytelling, branding, and in-depth journalism
