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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
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Science
- Epoch Times
Soviet-Era Spacecraft Is Set to Plunge to Earth a Half-Century After Its Failed Launch to Venus
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—A Soviet-era spacecraft meant to land on Venus in the 1970s is expected to soon plunge uncontrolled back to Earth. It's too early to know where the half-ton mass of metal might come down or how much of it will survive reentry, according to space debris-tracking experts. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek predicts the failed spacecraft will reenter around May 10. He estimates it will come crashing in at 150 mph, if it remains intact. 'While not without risk, we should not be too worried,' Langbroek said in an email. The object is relatively small and, even if it doesn't break apart, 'the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,' he said. The chance of the spacecraft actually hitting someone or something is small, he added. 'But it cannot be completely excluded.' Related Stories 4/20/2025 3/6/2025 The Soviet Union launched the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 in 1972, one of a series of Venus missions. But it never made it out of Earth orbit because of a rocket malfunction. Most of it came tumbling down within a decade. But Langbroek and others believe the landing capsule itself—a spherical object about 3 feet in diameter—has been circling the world in a highly elliptical orbit for the past 53 years, gradually dropping in altitude. It's quite possible that the 1,000-pound-plus spacecraft will survive reentry. It was built to withstand a descent through the carbon dioxide-thick atmosphere of Venus, said Langbroek of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Experts doubt the parachute system would work after so many years. The heat shield may also be compromised after so long in orbit. It would be better if the heat shield fails, which would cause the spacecraft to burn up during its dive through the atmosphere, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics' Jonathan McDowell said in an email. But if the heat shield holds, 'it'll reenter intact and you have a half-ton metal object falling from the sky.' The spacecraft could reenter anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude, or as far north as London and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, almost all the way down to South America's Cape Horn. But since most of the planet is water, 'chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean,' Langbroek said. By Marcia Dunn
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
A Soviet space probe will crash back to Earth. It could land in Australia
'I'm not worried – I'm not telling all my friends to go to the basement for this,' said Darren McKnight, senior technical fellow at LeoLabs, a company that tracks objects in orbit and monitors Kosmos-482 six times a day. 'Usually about once a week we have a large object reenter Earth's atmosphere where some remnants of it will survive to the ground.' When will Kosmos-482 come back to Earth? Estimates change daily, but the predicted days of re-entry are currently this weekend. One calculation of the window by The Aerospace Corp, a US-government supported non-profit that tracks space debris, suggests 1:37pm Saturday AEST – plus or minus 16 hours. Marco Langbroek, a scientist and satellite tracker at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands who has tracked Kosmos-482 for years, puts the estimate closer to 5:51pm AEST, plus or minus about 20 hours. Where will it land? No one knows. 'And we won't know until after the fact,' McDowell said. That's because Kosmos-482 is hurtling through space at more than 27,000km/h, and it will be going that fast until atmospheric friction pumps the brakes. So getting the timing wrong by even a half-hour means the spacecraft will re-enter more than half a world away, in a different spot. What's known is that Kosmos-482's orbit places it between 52 degrees north latitude and 52 degrees south latitude, which covers Africa, Australia, most of the Americas and much of south- and mid-latitude Europe and Asia. 'There are three things that can happen when something reenters: a splash, a thud or an ouch,' McKnight said. 'A splash is really good,' he said, and may be most likely because so much of Earth is covered in oceans. He said the hope was to avoid the 'thud' or the 'ouch'. Will the spacecraft survive impact? Assuming Kosmos-482 survives re-entry – and it should, as long as its heat shield is intact – the spacecraft will be going about 240km/h when it smashes into whatever it smashes into, Langbroek calculated. 'I don't think there's going to be a lot left afterward,' McDowell said. 'Imagine putting your car into a wall at 150 miles an hour [241km/h] and seeing how much of it is left.' The heat of re-entry should make Kosmos-482 visible as a bright streak through the sky if its return occurs over a populated area at night. If pieces of the spacecraft survive and are recovered, they legally belong to Russia. 'Under the law, if you find something, you have an obligation to return it,' said Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Centre for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi. 'Russia is considered to be the registered owner and therefore continues to have jurisdiction and control over the object.' How do we know the identity of this object? Some 25 years ago, McDowell was going through the North American Aerospace Defence Command's catalogue of about 25,000 orbital objects and trying to pin an identity on each. 'Most of them, the answer is, 'Well, this is a piece of exploded rocket from something fairly boring',' he recalls. Loading But one of them, object 6073, was a bit odd. Launched in 1972 from Kazakhstan, it ended up in a highly elliptical orbit, travelling between 200 and 10,000 kilometres from Earth. As he studied its orbit and size, McDowell surmised it must be the wayward Kosmos-482 lander – not just a piece of debris from the failed launch. The conclusion was supported by observations from the ground, as well as a recently declassified Soviet document.
The Age
08-05-2025
- Science
- The Age
A Soviet space probe will crash back to Earth. It could land in Australia
'I'm not worried – I'm not telling all my friends to go to the basement for this,' said Darren McKnight, senior technical fellow at LeoLabs, a company that tracks objects in orbit and monitors Kosmos-482 six times a day. 'Usually about once a week we have a large object reenter Earth's atmosphere where some remnants of it will survive to the ground.' When will Kosmos-482 come back to Earth? Estimates change daily, but the predicted days of re-entry are currently this weekend. One calculation of the window by The Aerospace Corp, a US-government supported non-profit that tracks space debris, suggests 1:37pm Saturday AEST – plus or minus 16 hours. Marco Langbroek, a scientist and satellite tracker at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands who has tracked Kosmos-482 for years, puts the estimate closer to 5:51pm AEST, plus or minus about 20 hours. Where will it land? No one knows. 'And we won't know until after the fact,' McDowell said. That's because Kosmos-482 is hurtling through space at more than 27,000km/h, and it will be going that fast until atmospheric friction pumps the brakes. So getting the timing wrong by even a half-hour means the spacecraft will re-enter more than half a world away, in a different spot. What's known is that Kosmos-482's orbit places it between 52 degrees north latitude and 52 degrees south latitude, which covers Africa, Australia, most of the Americas and much of south- and mid-latitude Europe and Asia. 'There are three things that can happen when something reenters: a splash, a thud or an ouch,' McKnight said. 'A splash is really good,' he said, and may be most likely because so much of Earth is covered in oceans. He said the hope was to avoid the 'thud' or the 'ouch'. Will the spacecraft survive impact? Assuming Kosmos-482 survives re-entry – and it should, as long as its heat shield is intact – the spacecraft will be going about 240km/h when it smashes into whatever it smashes into, Langbroek calculated. 'I don't think there's going to be a lot left afterward,' McDowell said. 'Imagine putting your car into a wall at 150 miles an hour [241km/h] and seeing how much of it is left.' The heat of re-entry should make Kosmos-482 visible as a bright streak through the sky if its return occurs over a populated area at night. If pieces of the spacecraft survive and are recovered, they legally belong to Russia. 'Under the law, if you find something, you have an obligation to return it,' said Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Centre for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi. 'Russia is considered to be the registered owner and therefore continues to have jurisdiction and control over the object.' How do we know the identity of this object? Some 25 years ago, McDowell was going through the North American Aerospace Defence Command's catalogue of about 25,000 orbital objects and trying to pin an identity on each. 'Most of them, the answer is, 'Well, this is a piece of exploded rocket from something fairly boring',' he recalls. Loading But one of them, object 6073, was a bit odd. Launched in 1972 from Kazakhstan, it ended up in a highly elliptical orbit, travelling between 200 and 10,000 kilometres from Earth. As he studied its orbit and size, McDowell surmised it must be the wayward Kosmos-482 lander – not just a piece of debris from the failed launch. The conclusion was supported by observations from the ground, as well as a recently declassified Soviet document.
Global News
05-05-2025
- Science
- Global News
53-year-old Soviet spacecraft set to crash-land on Earth this week
A spacecraft once launched by the now-dissolved Soviet Union is expected to make an uncontrolled crash landing on Earth this month, but space debris-tracking experts say it's too soon to determine exactly where the landing spot will be or if it poses any risks. The craft, called Kosmos 482, was launched in 1972 with the intended destination of Venus. However, a rocket malfunction kept the probe inside of Earth's orbit and it's been stuck there, gradually decaying for more than 50 years. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek, with Delft University of Technology, told The Associated Press that while the mass of metal weighs about half a ton, it's relatively small. There's a chance it will break up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, but even if it doesn't, 'the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,' Langbroek said. Story continues below advertisement The chance of the spacecraft hitting someone or something 'cannot be completely excluded.' Langbroek told that he pegs the current forecast for its re-entry for May 10, plus or minus a couple of days on either side. He estimates that Kosmos 482 will land with an impact velocity of approximately 242 km/h. 1/x New update of the #Kosmos 482 Descent Craft #reentry forecast based on new orbit update: May 10 +/- 1.5 days. Details in the updated blog post (link in next tweet) — Dr Marco Langbroek (@Marco_Langbroek) May 5, 2025 Story continues below advertisement After the craft was originally launched, most of it returned to Earth within a decade. Researchers believe the landing capsule — a spherical object about one metre in diameter — has been circling the world in a highly elliptical orbit for the past 53 years, gradually dropping in altitude. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In the 1970s, the highest point of the orbit was almost 10,000 kilometres above Earth's surface, but now it's below 400 kilometres and rapidly dropping. There are concerns that after more than half a century in orbit, both the heat shield and parachute may be compromised or out of order. A failure in the heat shield would be preferable, Jonathan McDowell with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics told AP in an email, explaining that the spacecraft would burn up in its dive through the atmosphere. If the heat shield holds, he said, 'it'll re-enter intact and you have a half-ton metal object falling from the sky.' The spacecraft could re-enter anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude — as far north as Edmonton, Alta., and almost all the way down to South America's Cape Horn. But since most of the planet is water, 'chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean,' Langbroek said.
