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Energy from wind and sea: a new way to store and capture power

As the global transition toward clean energy accelerates, the offshore wind sector faces a dual challenge: how to maximise wind farm efficiency and ensure reliable energy storage. Two pioneering research projects from the University of Malta—ParaWIND and StoreWind@SEA—are exploring innovative solutions both above and below the ocean’s surface.

In this Malta Café Scientifique talk, join researchers Karl Zammit and Keith Thomas Borg for a fascinating dive into the future of wind energy, where flying parakites and underwater compressed-air systems could play a vital role in the offshore energy landscape.

Karl Zammit will present the ParaWIND project, which investigates the use of a tethered parafoil (parakite) deployed between two wind turbines. This novel system injects controlled momentum into the wake of the upstream turbine, reducing turbulence and accelerating airflow recovery—thereby boosting the performance of the downstream turbine. Through high-fidelity simulations and advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), ParaWIND maps key design parameters to performance gains, aiming to inform next-generation wind farm layouts and wake-management strategies.

Keith Thomas Borg will then introduce the StoreWind@SEA project, which advances a cutting-edge hydro-pneumatic energy storage (O-HPES) system designed for offshore deployment. By storing compressed air in a subsea environment using a series of liquid piston modules, this system can help balance energy supply and demand on wind farms. With the potential to integrate directly within offshore wind installations, StoreWind@SEA offers a sustainable and scalable solution for long-duration energy storage (LDES)—a key component of a resilient renewable energy grid.

Together, these projects explore complementary innovations—one in the air, one beneath the sea—that aim to reshape the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of offshore wind power.

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Malta Café Scientifique thanks the STEAM project, Spazju Kreattiv for hosting this event, the University of Malta, and the Malta Chamber of Scientists (of which the Café forms part).