Green IT, or IT in general, has one major problem: its power supply. Where is the energy source? Dirty coal or something more innovative? Maybe we should give kites a try:
The love affair between kites and electricity have gone back since the time of Benjamin Franklin‘s pioneering theory of electrical fluidity. Fast forward to the 21st century and latest innovations in green technology have utilized the power of the kite to generate electricity through wind power. Wind energy is the second largest renewable resource after solar energy.
The higher the altitude the higher the energy source. Wind at higher altitudes are a major source of renewable energy. Wind turbines can only span to 300ft in height, while kites can in fact fly much higher. The aerospace engineering department of the Technology University in Delft, have an altitude record of 9,740 meters. According to Roland Schmehl at TU in Delft : "With a 25 square meter sail like that we can produce enough energy to cover the needs of 40 households, with less environmental impact than a conventional windmill and at reduced costs," Kite wind generators are also cheaper to produce as they require less material.
The constant tugging of the kite against its tether creates a pumping motion, similar to a piston in a car’s engine. The action produces mechanical energy which can then be sent into the grid or stored in a battery.
With the growing need for renewable energy it is no wonder everyone wants a piece of the trend. Google acquired Makani a Kite Power Company this May 2013. This a good start for big companies like Google, to pave the way for sourcing cleaner energy to manage their large server farms.
Opportunities are being made in Advance Emerging Markets with the example of UK based start up - Kite Power Solutions, exploring opportunities in Brazil. They aim to launch their patented two kite wind generators to tap into two markets. First market being in mineral extraction where remote power is required using diesel generators and the second being offshore wind.
Wind power is definitely a key player in the world of renewable energy. Although Kite wind generators have a long way to go before it can be fully commercialized, this simple childhood toy presents a promising key to the future of renewable energy and our future.
The important key takeaway here is that while green IT needs to be implemented in businesses, it is also about the innovation for finding novel and new solutions to providing energy. After all, without electricity there is no IT at all.
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