Assisted site-dependent selection of the most suitable Airborne Wind Energy system via Fuzzy Analytic Network Process

Abstract

Over the last decade, the Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) innovation has been evolving with the development of several prototypes by various companies/research institutions. AWE crosswind systems may differ in the electricity generation mode, the wing type, the take-off/landing approaches and the control mechanisms, to name a few. Each system has characteristics which enhance their performance regarding key factors of AWE exploration at the expense of penalizing others. Hence, deciding for the most appropriate system in a possible AWE implementation, targeting a certain location, is a difficult and uncertain scenario. This paper presents a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach, using the Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP), aiming to determine, from nine alternatives, the most suitable AWE crosswind system for two distinct exploration sites: on-shore rural and off-shore. The importance of key selection criteria for AWE is presented and discussed, alternatives in each criterion are evaluated and compared and, finally, a prioritization of both alternatives and criteria is obtained. The FANP methodology indicates rigid wing pumping-cycle systems with horizontal take-off as the most suitable solution for both investigated sites, revealing Aerodynamic Performance, Mass-to-Area Ratio and Controlability as the most relevant factors in the decision.