Google buys wind power turbine company Makani Power

In its latest overture to the renewable energy sector, Google Inc. is buying Makani Power, a company that specializes in a non-traditional form of wind power generation, according to reports.

The renewable energy company is being acquired by Google X, a division of the computing and information technology firm that focuses on futuristic technologies — such as the Project Glass wearable computer. Google has invested in Makani since 2007.

Financial details are not known.

“This formalizes a long and productive relationship between our two companies, and will provide Makani with the resources to accelerate our work to make wind energy cost competitive with fossil fuels,” according to Makani Power’s website.

According to Makani, airborne wind turbines (AWT) can generate energy inexpensively and in a greater variety of locations than traditional wind turbines.

Makani’s AWT is tethered to the ground and uses an autonomous wind (visually similar to a kite) to generate power from wind currents. The AWTs fly at 1,000 feet.