Portugal innovating in wind: portable wind energy could replace diesel generators

Portuguese universities continue to lead in energy innovation and this time it was FEUP, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, through its spin-off UPWind Energy, taking a significant step forward.

According to an article published by Jornal Económico, a portable version of a high-altitude wind energy system (AWES – Airborne Wind Energy Systems) has been developed to replace diesel generators in remote locations.

By eliminating the tower and foundation required in conventional wind turbines, this solution enables:
• A drastic reduction in material usage
• Simplified installation
• The creation of a sustainable, portable solution for remote communities and disaster-affected areas, an increasingly urgent need given the extreme climate events that have impacted Portugal and other countries in recent weeks.

As Luís Tiago Paiva, CEO of UPWind Energy, stated in Jornal Económico:
“We aim to offer a sustainable, cost-effective and easy-to-transport solution capable of replacing diesel generators in off-grid operations.”

The innovation is already gaining international recognition, and in 2026 FEUP will host the 11th International Airborne Wind Energy Conference (AWEC 2026), bringing together global experts to discuss the future of this technology.

All the information above was sourced from an article published in Jornal Económico, available here: Spin-off da FEUP desenvolve gerador portátil de energia eólica de altitude

Image credits: Jornal Económico