Economic Relevance
The wind energy systems marketed by X-Wind Powerplants compete with all other energy producing systems. X-Wind systems have such unique features that they are virtually unequalled. Even in the currently still subsidized energy market X-Wind systems remain unchallenged due to their production consistency and base load capacities (75%).
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Overview of Objectives
The X-Wind Concept:
Collecting energy from the atmosphere with kites rather than with propellers
1. Generating CO2 free energy with almost continuous operation
2. Being competitive with fossil fuels
3. Strong intellectual property situation (Patents for over 80% of the world market are granted)
4. Building systems according to direct client requirements
5. Providing decentralized systems
6. Minimal environmental impact
7. Low use of recources
8. Bird, insect and bat safe (low speed moving)
9. Only proven components (standard rail road tracks, bogies from electrical trains, motors from CNC machinery, ropes and kites, standard grid connection parts)
10. Long term scalability
11. Kite size can easily be changed to better adapt to seasonal conditions
12. X-Wind kites can easily be lowered and brought down in the case of extreme winds
13. No stroboscopic effect
14. Low noise emission
15. Easy deconstructable
16. Extremly landscape friendly (nearly invisible)
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Target Markets
First Target: Germany
Current status: 29,000 wind energy systems are currently (2018) operating in Germany (source: BWE).
A wind energy system generates about 1700MWh/year on average. Operators currently receive about 5 Cent/KWh according the Germany’s Energy Exchange EEX. This creates a stable calculation model for X-Wind systems. Operators are able to yield even higher prices through various energy trading platforms.
The base load capacity of X-Wind systems ensures, unlike conventional wind and solar energy systems, production during peak periods to yield correspondingly higher returns.
A conventional modern 2MW off-shore wind energy system costs approximately 4-6 million Euros and reaches a profitability of approximately 6-9% at an average capacity factor of 38% maximum. Initial calculations indicate that an X-Wind system will also cost approximately 4-6 million Euro per 2 MW. Yet its capacity factor is at least 60% (70%-85% realistically) yielding an efficiency of at least 12%. The operational and maintenance costs of an NTS X-Wind system are also lower.
X-Wind systems also
perform well in
comparison with solar
energy systems: a solar
energy system with a
capacity of 1.4MW firstly
requires an enormous
area of more than
60,000m2 and secondly,
the average efficiency of
solar energy systems is under
5% at best and not
continually operable
(day/night cycle).
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Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages
New technological innovations possess opportunities, weaknesses, risks and strengths.
An annual review of the Company is one of the fundamental obligations of the management.
The SWAT-analysis (SWOT = Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) of X-Wind technology is detailed further below.
Opportunities
- Production costs comparable with fossil fuel systems
- Rising prices of fossil fuels
- Energy source: Wind is free of charge
- Growing environmental awareness
- Promotion and marketing independence from fossil fuels
- General rise of energy costs
- Globalization and Europeanization
- Increasing resistance to nuclear energy
- Rising prices of CO2 certificates increase profitability of NTS systems
Weaknesses
- Infrastructural development
- Lengthy approval processes
- Potential opposition to the minimal visual impact X-Wind plants have on the landscape
Risks
- Adaptation and modification to comply with legal and regulatory restrictions for development approval
- Scope of infrastructural development requirements
- Compliance with international laws and regulations
- Long-term contracts
Strengths
- Germany’s recognized position on environmental technology
- Environmentally friendly systems (wind is free!)
- No CO2 emissions generated during energy production
- Systems built to size according directly to client requirements
- On-site production of energy
- Production of environmentally friendly hydrogen from surplus capacities of X-Wind systems
- Strong intellectual property situation (Patents for over 80% of the world market)
- Easy deconstructable
- No stroboscopic effect
- Bird, insect and bat safe
- Scalable at site
- Being competitive with fossil fuels
- Providing decentralized systems
- Minimal environmental impact
- Low use of recoursses
- Only proven components (standard rail road tracks, bogies from electrical trains, motors from CNC machinery, ropes and kites, standard grid connection parts)
- Long time scalability
- Kite size easily changed to better adapt to seasonal wind conditions
- X-Wind Kites can easily be lowered and brought down in the case of extreme winds
- Low noise emission
- Extremely landscape friendly (nearly invisible)
- Details