Patterson, Thom. “Meet the BAT, an airborne wind turbine.” CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, 12 May 2014. Web. 31 Aug. 2014.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/tech/innovation/big-idea-airborne-wind-turbines/index.html?hpt=us_t3
Altaeros Energies is changing the game of wind turbines as we know them. Their buoyant airborne turbine, an invention referred to as the BAT, harnesses wind energy with a floating, helium-filled craft. It hovers 1,000 – 2,000 feet above the ground, operates without an onboard crew and is significantly more efficient than the tower turbines that are currently used. Because the BAT is portable, it is viewed as a hopeful option for communities in closed-off, rural areas.
This development is exciting to follow, as it could potentially provide clean energy to these struggling remote villages. Altaeros estimates that each BAT can provide 12 homes with power. In addition to being much smaller than tower turbines and easily transported, the BAT is also less expensive. I consider this a major advancement for energy accessibility, and it is simultaneously an environmentally sustainable achievement.
