Magenn
What do you get when you mix a lighter-than-air blimp with a turbine system to generate electricity? Meet Magenn’s MARS, a tethered wind turbine that’s a) more mobile than turbines planted in the ground, b) can use stronger wind currents up to 1000 feet above ground, and c) has a wider operating tolerance for both light and strong winds. MARS is designed to work in a range of different configurations, in combination with other generation systems, and for different uses.
MARS – the tethered wind turbine
MARS, Magenn’s Air Rotor System prototype, is a helium filled tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis when the wind blows to make electrical energy. The energy is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or it can be stored in a set of batteries, or sent the power grid. The obvious benefit of MARS is that it can get higher than traditional wind turbines where there are stronger and more consistent winds.
“We see our product as creating new demand for wind, as opposed to tapping into the current wind-energy market.”
Although it’s mobile, and can be placed anywhere, particularly close to where electricity is needed, MARS will stay in a very restricted space when floating because its rotation provides stability, and extra lift additional to the helium. MARS can be controlled to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and Transport Canada guidelines. MARS has lower noise emissions and is capable of operating in a wider range of wind speeds – from four mph to over sixty mph.
MARS technology can be applied to a range of applications and product systems. Magenn is targeting developing nations where infrastructure is limited or non existent; off-grid combined wind and diesel solutions for island nations, farms, remote areas, cell towers, exploration equipment, backup power and water pumps for natural gas mines; rapid deployment solutions to disaster areas for power to emergency and medical equipment, water pumps; on-grid applications for farms, factories, remote communities; and wind farms developments.
Case Study
John Deere
John Deere
“Let us help you harvest the sky, for the benefit of generations to come.”
David Drescher
Vice President
John Deere Wind Energy
NextPlays blog
#SB10 - Biolite wins Sustainable Innovation award
We're stoked that Biolite won SB10's Sustainable Innovation award, announced on the last day of the conference. Jonathan Cedar, co-inventor and the nascent company's CEO delivered a great presentation that made clear the significant impact that could be achieved if Biolite (and stoves like it) replace traditional wood-fired stoves in the developing world. The Biolite stove reinvents stoves used for home cooking in Asia, Africa and Latin America by making the burning process more efficient. The greater efficiency the less fuel is used and less smoke is generated. Less smoke, the less harm to the health of the cooks. Biolite has an additional feature; they've developed a process that converts a small part of the thermal energy into electricity. This means that users can recharge electrical devices while cooking, and that's got to be good for developing world users facing regular megacity brown outs, or for those who are off the grid completely.
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