Topic Vestas

Oct. 3, 2019      Dave Santos Vestas belatedly building an AWES Patent Portfolio Rather late to the AWE game*, Vestas seeks blocking IP by claiming the idea of a DC internal grid for kitefarm use. This is both obvious and faces prior art challenges (like kFarm's early AC grid-tie from its DC production). We have long learned not to get worked up over the AWE IP thicket, as the patent rush seemingly peaked, and never developed into the feared worst-case Google monopoly. In fact, Vestas is a welcome diversifying addition to major AWE IP claimants, which include KiteGen, Google, the AWEurope circle, and the Open-AWE_IP-Cloud pooling various quality patent small-holders like Olsen and Bolonkin. Someday, AWE IP will all shake out in or out of court, and licensing will be a minor marginal cost. Thanks to Tallak for this item. Not seeing Vestas assignee status at first glance; presuming Tallak correct on that point. WO2019141334A1 - Wind energy park with airborne wind energy systems and a direct current (dc) internal grid - Google Patents Morten LINDHOLM Thomas S. Bjertrup NIELSEN Torben PETERSEN Lars HELLE * not counting Vestas engineers in AWE start-ups ======= From patent text selected by moderator:  "Abstract: The present invention relates to wind energy park connected to an electrical grid, having airborne wind energy systems (AWES, 100), e.g. with kites (101). The wind energy park (WEP) has an electrical DC network (506) connecting the plurality of AWES and a grid converter unit (504) for converting DC to AC, and transmit AC to the electrical grid. The wind energy park control unit (503) controls the AWES to produce electrical power to the electrical grid by alternating between a power production phase, and a recovery phase so to balance the supply of power to the electrical grid according a demanded setpoint. An advantage is that the grid converter may be smaller, as compared to an AC network, because the power is evened out with the negative power from the AWES being in (N recovery phase. In this way, the invention stabilises the grid and has a grid forming capability." "the planning and design of wind energy parks, or wind energy farms, with a large number of AWES, e.g. up to hundreds of AWES has now started." " it is also to be understood that a kite is generally interpreted in a broad way i.e. as a wind engaging member suitable for wind energy harvesting in large heights, the kite being durable for an extended period for power production and connected to the ground via one, or more, suitable cables. The present invention is primarily intended for AWES having electrical generators on the ground, though it is contemplated that the principle of the present invention also could be applied to some concepts where the electrical generator is airborne, too." (bold added)

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