Preliminary Design of a Deep Offshore Airborne Wind Energy Farm
Abstract
This report presents the preliminary design of a deep offshore wind farm based on Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) technology. The design focuses on the sizing of critical components for an offshore farm configuration, including: Kite and Tether: Focus on a soft-wing kite system with a rated power of 2 MW per unit. Offshore Infrastructure: Engineering of floating platforms and mooring lines to ensure stability and functionality in deep-sea environments. Substations and Transmission: Integration of electrical machinery and power cables for energy conversion and transfer. The study uses a specific reference site located in Sicily, Italy (west of the Egadi Islands), utilizing ERA5 reanalysis data to model wind profiles at high altitudes (approx. 200 m). The findings provide essential technical data for assessing the feasibility of high-altitude wind energy systems in deep offshore locations.