Google Backed Kite Maker Makani Retools For Lower Altitude Kite Flying


Makani Power has been working largely in stealth for several years, developing huge wing-shaped kites to generate power from the strong winds exhaled miles above the earth’s surface.

But recently, the company has begun to redefine itself for low-altitude flying – retooling to be what it describes as a “high capacity” company instead of a “high-altitude” one.

Details were scarce during an appearance by CTO Corwin Hardham at the OPENforum 2009 conference in Mountain View on Saturday.

But he said the Alameda startup that received $5 million from Google in 2008 no longer feels it has to fly its kites at high altitudes to successfully generate substantial energy from the wind.

The new target: a couple of hundred meters to a kilometer. Makani had previously anticipated its kites would fly at 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, above the earth.

Hardham declined to explain why the company made the change. He said details of its progress are to be unveiled in articles planned for Wired and Nature in the next couple months.

But he said the company continues to make gains on the efficiency of its kites and anticipates having products available in four or five years. For instance, it has developed higher performing airfoils.

Nevertheless, significant breakthroughs remain in front of Makani as it tries to bring its technology dream to life.

“We’re developing a whole new technology,” he said. Makani anticipates the cost of its power will be less than electricity generated from fossil fuels.