New underwater 'energy kites' could change how we generate marine power
新型水下「能量風箏」或將改變我們獲取海洋能源的方式
更新於: 2026年6月6日 上午04:15
Imagine a kite flying, but deep beneath the ocean surface.
想像一下一隻風箏在飛行，但卻是在深海(ㄕㄣ平面之下。
Unlike traditional stationary turbines, these devices use hydrodynamic lift to move in a figure-eight pattern.
與傳統的固定式渦輪機不同，這些裝置利用流體動力升力以「8」字形路徑移動。
By 'flying' through the water, the kite achieves speeds much faster than the actual current, which allows for highly efficient electricity generation due to the cubic relationship between water speed and power output.
透過在水中「飛行」，風箏的移動速度遠高於實際水流速度，由於水流速度與功率輸出之間存在立方關係，這使得該裝置能實現高效的發電。
Developed by the Swedish company Minesto, the 'Dragon' class of kites, such as the 12-meter, 28-ton Dragon 12, has already been successfully grid-connected in the Faroe Islands.
由瑞典公司Minesto所開發的「龍」系列風箏（例如12公尺長、28噸重的Dragon 12）已經在法羅群島成功併網。
A major advantage of this technology is its ability to operate in slower-moving currents where traditional turbines would fail, drastically increasing the number of sites suitable for tidal energy.
這項技術的一個主要優勢是它能在傳統渦輪機無法運作的較慢水流中工作，大幅增加了適合潮汐能源開發的地點數量。
Furthermore, because seawater is incredibly dense, these kites produce significant power with a small physical footprint.
此外，由於海水密度極大，這些風箏能以較小的實體佔地面積產生顯著的電力。
While challenges like high upfront costs and complex maintenance remain, the predictability of tidal currents—far more reliable than sun or wind—makes this an exciting frontier for clean energy.
儘管仍存在前期成本高昂和維護複雜等挑戰，但潮汐流的可預測性使其成為乾淨能源一個令人振奮的前沿領域。
As the industry scales up, these kites could soon play a vital role in our global renewable energy mix.
隨著產業規模的擴大，這些風箏很快就能在全球再生能源結構中發揮關鍵作用。
