Sky-high Kites Aim to Tap Unused Wind Power

For a child, the simple act of flying a kite can be exhilarating; running and pulling at the line to send it ever higher into the sky where the winds dance to their own wild tune. 

Those same winds that captivate young imaginations are also working their magic on a growing body of researchers intent on harvesting what are known as high-altitude winds. At a height of 200 meters (656 feet) and more, winds tend to blow stronger and more steadily than those closer to the ground. 

These winds are so strong, in fact, that they could be used to generate more electricity than we need and significantly more than wind turbines on land can produce. A doubling of wind speed can theoretically generate up to eight times more power.

SkySails-Power, currently leader in the sector, has sold a first unit to Mauritius. The company is looking to build a high-altitude wind hub in East Africa and operate offshore kite wind farms.

SkySails said a single one of its kites can create energy for up to 500 households, using 90% less material than traditional wind turbines. Other advantages include flexibility of location.

"You could also operate them above the forest. You could stop them operating and or even land if there's a swarm of birds passing by," said Diehl.

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Placing Future Generations at the Heart of Sustainable Development

In an effort to deliver the 2030 Agenda through a reformed multilateral system, the UN Secretary-General will publish eleven policy briefs between March and July 2023. The policy briefs are intended to propose concrete actions under Our Common Agenda and to inform the discussions of Members States in advance of the 2023 SDG Summit and the Summit of the Future in 2024. The first brief, published on 9 March under the title, ‘To Think and Act for Future Generations,’ provides a number of suggestions and practical steps in ensuring that intergenerational solidarity becomes the guiding star of sustainable development and renewal of the multilateral system.

To Think and Act for Future Generations 

European Commission Publishes its General Report 2022 – Focus on EU’s Solidarity with Ukraine

On 15 March, the European Commission published the 2022 edition of the EU General Report – “The EU in 2022”. 

The report presents key EU activities in 2022, with a strong focus on the EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.

In particular, the EU adopted more than 200 measures to help the Ukrainian state and people, and to support Member States in dealing with the consequences of the war, especially on Europe’s economy and energy security. Around 4 million people fleeing the war received temporary protection in EU Member States. 

In 2022, the EU adopted nine packages of sanctions to curtail Russia’s ability to wage war and mobilised close to €50 billion in support for Ukraine.

The report also highlights EU relations with the Eastern Partner countries, the strengthening of political and economic ties, including through providing EU candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine and European perspective to Georgia, and increasing sanctions against Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus. 

The report reminds that the EU is investing €2.3 billion in the Eastern Partnership  to leverage investments of up to €17 billion across all sectors.

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