Site Identification Analysis for AWE Devices. A case study in Germany

Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) use kites and gliders to harvest renewable energy from high-altitude winds, offering a complimentary technology for achieving a Global Net Zero emissions targets. Implementation of these systems involves complexities and characteristics that cannot (necessarily) be generalized within studies of typical wind turbines. Therefore, it is important to adopt adequate approaches to conduct site selection studies that are suited for both pilot testing and operations at a commercial scale for the different devices currently under development. 

As part of the MegaAWE project (supported by Interreg North-Western Europe), a site identification analysis for AWE devices was carried out following a technology-agnostic approach, using Germany as a case study. Several technological, geographical, environmental, and political criteria were defined and a thorough analysis using GIS tools was carried out to identify the suitable areas for the deployment of this technology under different scenarios. Three case studies were applied to the width of the Risk Buffer, the Operational Radius and the distance from the Ground station to Forests.

Understanding the potential capacity of AWEs is essential for assessing the feasibility and economic viability of deploying AWE technologies. Additionally, this analysis allowed for the comparison with other established technologies (i.e., traditional wind turbines).

The results of the identified deployment and operational areas for AWES in Germany are available in shapefile format here - DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10462306