Matthew and his Feelings

weliveinthefuture:

“Google-funded startup Makani has already proven that kites have value as an energy source. Now the GE-chartered Beluga SkySails cargo vessel has shown that kites—yes, those lightweight things you fly from strings—can act as propulsion systems on ships.

The vessel, chartered by GE’s Project Logistics team to carry power-generating equipment, boasts the first towing kite propulsion system for a commercial shipping vessel. The parasail-like kite attaches to the ship’s bow and pulls it through the water. The SkySails system can carry a load of eight to 16 tons—a number that is expected to increase to 32 tons by 2012 as the technology matures.”

via mikehudack:hilker:hippieflavor:Fast Company

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Is the kite pulling the ship or is the ship flying the kite?

I was just thinking about this yesterday, and then bam, right in my tumblrfeed. With the rising cost of oil, why don’t we see more technology like this?

At least now we know it works.