From Lightning Experiments to Space Programs, the Sustainable Development Secret Behind Kites

Luna Kite

TMTPOST -- On a day in June 1752, amidst thunder and lightning, a kite flew in the thunderstorms over Philadelphia. Lightning struck the slender metal wire at its top and was “captured” by the metal key at the end of the long kite line.

This scene was later written into history books, textbooks, and children's books, becoming a shared memory of humankind.

Through his kite experiment, Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity, establishing it as a science, an industry, and a part of everyday life. He is often referred to as “the Newton of electricity segment.”

In 2025, humanity continues to explore another method of using the magic of gravity to generate electricity. Sixty meters below the surface of the deep North Atlantic Ocean, a mechanical kite named LUNA 12 dances at a speed of up to 16 knots, striving to fulfill its mission: using the tidal movement caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and the Moon to bring green electricity to the residents and sheep of the Faroe Islands. Nearly 300 years have passed, and people still need a key to open the door to a sustainable future.

Luna Kite: A Space Project That Never Left Earth

On our planet, there has always been no shortage of people who harbor dreams and gaze at the stars. Some break through the sky in spacecraft, while others choose to root themselves on the Blue Planet, bringing the power of the universe to their fellow humans on the ground.

The Faroe Islands Space Project is one such space project that has never left the Earth. This project is a collaboration between the globally-renowned bearing manufacturer SKF and Minesto, a pioneer in ocean energy development. During high and low tides, seawater flows through the turbines of the LUNA 12, generating electricity. At this stage, LUNA 12 has a rated power of 1.2 MW and a daily average power generation of 9.5 MWh, enough to meet the annual electricity consumption of 200 villas.

Tidal power is an important component of ocean energy. The International Energy Agency has predicted that by 2050, the global installed capacity of ocean energy will exceed 300 GW, achieving an annual reduction of approximately 500 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Currently, China and the European Union, and other countries and regions committed to achieving carbon neutrality are actively exploring the development and utilization of ocean energy. As one of the pioneers, the Faroe Islands Space Project also has a greater ambition: it plans to build a new 200 MW tidal energy facility, which is expected to meet 40% of the electricity demand of the entire Faroe Islands.

TIDAL KITE

However, taming the tides is not easy.

While enduring the extreme deep-sea conditions, LUNA 12 must also continuously withstand acceleration and ensure smooth turns, posing immense demands on the bearings and seals.

SKF takes on the critical task of designing bearings and providing technical support for the kite. During the project development, SKF's SimPro Quick software tool proved invaluable. Engineers used this software to create calculation models of turbines, rudders, and generators, and to evaluate and optimize bearing arrangement, significantly improving work efficiency.

Meanwhile, another software tool “Product Selection” enables comparative analysis of different options. By inputting bearing designation and operating conditions, parameters such as minimum load, grease life, and CO2 emissions will appear on the screen. After comparison, the project team is able to select the optimal solution. Once the kite tunes, SKF's sensors will provide operational safeguards and ensure power generation by monitoring bearings condition in real time and collecting operating information of adjacent components to avoid bearing damage and unplanned downtime.

The interdisciplinary collaboration between SKF and Minesto brings the vision of ocean energy development closer to reality, the underlying philosophy, Technology-Driven Energy Transition, may be the key to unlocking a zero-carbon future.

Turing the Future: Green Innovation in Support of China’s Dual Carbon Goals

In SKF factory in Jinan, ground-source heat pumps utilize the Earth's inherent “temperature regulation”, absorbing the Earth's energy to regulate the factory's temperature, while reducing carbon emission pollution.

In SKF Dalian production base, recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a National Green Factory, “black technology” supports multiple channels of large bearing production lines, while green innovations such as the intelligent energy and carbon management system ensure a win-win for both production and environmental protection. SKF's efforts in green transformation extend far beyond tidal power generation. The century-old global bearing brand is not only a joint in the global industrial field, supporting the operation of energy, transport, and various other segments, but also a pioneer in energy transition and carbon reduction.

“By 2030, all of our manufacturing units will be net-zero in greenhouse gas emissions; by 2050, we will be net-zero across the entire value chain, from raw materials to finished products!” From 2020 to 2021, SKF announced its “carbon neutrality” commitment in stages, aligning with the timelines of other leading international companies such as Marriott, Lenovo, and ExxonMobil.

Image from SKF's White Paper on the Path to Net Zero Emissions

It was also in 2020 that China entered its “dual carbon” era, with “energy transition”, “zero-carbon parks”, and “new quality productivity” becoming popular words. Behind this, new industries focused on green and clean energy were rapidly emerging. From land to sea, large megawatt wind turbines rotate with the wind. Many of their main shafts are supported by SKF's DuraPro wind power bearings. From city streets to highways, sleek new energy vehicles are whizzing by. Many of these vehicles incorporate SKF's high-efficiency electric drive bearing solutions. From urban subways to intercity high-speed railways, trains are moving in rapid succession, with many relying on SKF's intelligent rail monitoring system for real-time analysis, ensuring more reliable and efficient operation.

As a foreign-invested company with over 110 years of operation in China, SKF focuses on “smart and clean” technologies. In the past two years alone, it has developed and launched more than 20 new products and technologies in the country. SKF has also received widespread recognition for its contributions to industrial carbon reduction. In the low-carbon metals segment, it has received the China Baowu Outstanding Contribution Award for Excellent Supply Chain Partners four times. In the heavy industry sector, it was honored as a “2024 Strategic Supplier of CITIC Heavy Industries”. “More than a decade ago, I joined the team of the first generation of high-speed railway workers in China. During a visit to a SKF factory, I was deeply impressed by the cleanliness of the bearing workshops. I often hear Veteran technicians said that SKF bearings hardly needed inspection — they were guaranteed to be qualified. Being there in person, I was amazed by the extreme precision of SKF bearings, achieved through their incredibly tight tolerances. Now that I am working with SKF again, I continue to be reassured by their professional team and solid product quality. Thank you for your strong support of the railway industry”.

“SKF products reduce maintenance frequency, saving energy and protecting the environment. In my view, this embodies sustainable development!”

…Through years of efforts rooted in our commitment to “In China, for China,” some customers have become “fans”, and some “fans” have become partners. Together, we walk hand in hand toward a future we all aspire to.

We Fight Friction to Move the World Forward: Turning Smoothly to a Sustainable Future

Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Low Altitude aircrafts ......

Today, we stand at the threshold of a new technological and industrial revolution, with countless new gadgets developing rapidly and demanding ever-increasing amounts of energy.

At the same time, global warming is intensifying, extreme weather events are occurring more frequent, and disasters such as wildfires and tsunamis are becoming more common...

Our planet is already under severe strain from decades of industrialization. In 2024, the global temperature rise exceeded the 1.5°C warning threshold. Many experts warn that if we do not act now, it may be too late.

On the one hand, we need development, and on the other hand, we need to reduce carbon emissions. How can we mesh these two gears that drive human society forward?

“We fight friction to move the world forward.”

In 2025, SKF provided its answer through a comprehensive brand refresh.

By overcoming friction and controlling resistance, we can move forward smoothly and create greater value with less resources. Today, only by properly addressing the friction and resistionce in the process of social development and energy transition can we move more smoothly towards a sustainable future.

“Reducing friction is the soul of our bearings, and this is especially true in power generation projects. Our aim is for all generated power to enter the grid, rather than being lost to friction”, says an SKF engineer, give a powerful interpretation of the SKF Way. With studies showing that overcoming friction accounts for up to 20% of global energy consumption, there is plenty of room for improvement in energy efficiency.

SKF’s approach also offers an alternative pathway to sustainable development, much like the Faroe Islands project that highlighted an innovative perspective on space exploration.

While fighting friction to move the world forward and exploring sustainable development, SKF is also cultivating seeds for the future. At Laowo Middle School in Lushui City, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, students for the first time have a smart classroom with 49 laptops, where they explore artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies in free public classes, keeping pace with global progress. Through public welfare programs such as the “Dream Summer Camp” and the “Yunnan Public Welfare Tour”, SKF provides fertile ground for the seeds of future industrial innovation. The Faroe Islands and Laowo Middle School are nearly 10,000 kilometers away, but both the kites dancing in the tides and the smiling faces of the children in the smart classrooms tell a story of keeping our feet on the ground to turn ideas into reality and move into the future with dreams.

Between exploring the universe and committing to long-term development on Earth, SKF chooses the latter - using science and technology to turn the Moon's gravitational force into power for humanity. Between expansive development and one-size-fits-all carbon reduction, SKF breaks through with a different way of thinking - removing the barriers between different models and concepts to unleash greater power through synergistic operation. Perhaps this is the ultimate significance of friction: not as resistance, but as a fulcrum to move forward.