KE60 Mark III

The KE60 Mark III features an electric generation at ground level with two independent tethers to steer the aerodynamically optimized kite from the ground. This kind of machine mechanically transfers the aerodynamic lift of the kite to rotating drums at ground, transforming the drum’s rotary motion into electric energy when the kite gains altitude and generates a pull on the tethers. After reaching the maximum altitude, the machine consumes a small amount of energy to lower the kite towards the minimum flight altitude, rewinding the tethers before the start of a new generation phase. The cycle’s net energy is the algebraic sum of generated and consumed energy, from which the “pumping” or “yo-yo” terms come from.