The difference between conventional sails and the kite (from the article) - the wind 1000 feet up is going to be stronger than the wind at the surface.
Also, with this technology, it looks like it is easier to retrofit the existing fleet of ships with a sail than to add a conventional sail.
In the article, the company suggests that they want to call it a 'battery' because it is 'that safe' - with all the reports of problems with Lithum-Ion batteries spontaneously-combusting, I don't think anyone would assume a battery is safe.
Slashdot Mirror
The difference between conventional sails and the kite (from the article) - the wind 1000 feet up is going to be stronger than the wind at the surface. Also, with this technology, it looks like it is easier to retrofit the existing fleet of ships with a sail than to add a conventional sail.
In the article, the company suggests that they want to call it a 'battery' because it is 'that safe' - with all the reports of problems with Lithum-Ion batteries spontaneously-combusting, I don't think anyone would assume a battery is safe.
First Clippy, now Dicey?