TY  - JOUR
SN  - 1049-8923
Y1  - 2012/12//
N2  - This paper presents novel results related to an innovative airborne wind energy technology, named Kitenergy, for the conversion of high-altitude wind energy into electricity. The research activities carried out in the last five years, including theoretical analyses, numerical simulations, and experimental tests, indicate that Kitenergy could bring forth a revolution in wind energy generation, providing renewable energy in large quantities at a lower cost than fossil energy. This work investigates three important theoretical aspects: the evaluation of the performance achieved by the employed control law, the optimization of the generator operating cycle, and the possibility to generate continuously a constant and maximal power output. These issues are tackled through the combined use of modeling, control, and optimization methods that result to be key technologies for a significant breakthrough in renewable energy generation.
JF  - International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control 
VL  - 22
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
EP  - 2083
SP  - 2055
A1  - Fagiano, Lorenzo
A1  - Milanese, Mario
A1  - Piga, Dario
AV  - none
ID  - eprints2469
TI  - Optimization of airborne wind energy generators
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rnc.1808
IS  - 18
KW  - wind energy
KW  -  high-altitude wind energy
KW  -  nonlinear model predictive control
KW  -  optimization
ER  -