Ram air kite modified to be more like a drogue chute (like behind a dragracer) that fills with the wind and powerfully unwinds a spool of line to a point where the thing partially collapses itself and spring action recoils the spool.

Spool movement generates power.

Similar method for underwater generator. Buoyant material tethered to reel, currents lift and move to create energy.
-- subflower, Oct 28 2005

See also "kite pump" Kite_20pump
[Ling, Oct 28 2005]

random, halfbakery