Can a tethered drone flying 400 feet in the air really replace traditional wind turbines?

Rob Creighton, Founder and CEO of Windlift, brings an unconventional background to clean energy innovation. After mapping the human genome as a lab technician, his concerns about peak oil led him to Miles Lloyd's revolutionary 1980 paper on airborne wind energy. "Cut off the tip of a wind turbine blade, attach it to a tether and generate the same electricity with 95% less material," Rob explains. Windlift's tethered drones fly at 400 feet, generating power without towers or massive infrastructure. Can this technology scale beyond defense applications? Rob shares why he's willing to risk everything for climate solutions that protect the Minnesota wilderness where his nephew can no longer play pond hockey.

Rob Creighton is the Founder and CEO of Windlift, which he established in 2006 after discovering Miles Lloyd's pioneering research on airborne wind energy. With a BS in Genetics and an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rob worked as a biologist on the Human Genome Project before pivoting to clean energy innovation. Based in Durham, North Carolina, he has secured over $30 million in contracts with the Naval Research Laboratory and Pentagon, developing tethered autonomous drones that generate electricity with 95% less material than traditional turbines, serving both military and commercial applications.

In This Episode: 

(00:00) Rob Creighton - from mapping human genome to airborne wind

(02:45) Windlift's technology explained, tethered drones generating power at altitude

(05:28) Peak oil concerns and discovery of Miles Lloyd's groundbreaking paper

(10:07) Challenges of airborne wind energy, learning from Makani's failure

(15:06) Defense market strategy and working with Pentagon operational energy

(19:39) Personal commitment to climate action and wilderness preservation

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About the show: 

The Age of Adoption podcast explores the monumental transition from a period of social, economic, and environmental research and exploration – an Age of Innovation – to today's world in which companies across the economy are furiously deploying sustainable solutions – the Age of Adoption. Listen as our host, Keith Zakheim, CEO of Antenna Group, talks with experts from across the climate, energy, health, and real estate sectors to discuss what the transition means for business and society, and how corporates and startups can rise above competitors to lead in this new age. 

This podcast is brought to you by Antenna Group, a global marketing and communications agency that partners with Fully Conscious brands — those with the courage to lead transformative change across Climate & Energy, Real Estate, Health, and beyond. Our clients include visionary corporations, startups, investors, and nonprofits who recognize that meaningful impact requires more than awareness; it demands bold action. In today's Age of Adoption, where every sector must incorporate sustainable solutions into foundational systems, we amplify brands standing at the forefront of change, shaping a better future for our planet and its people. To learn more, visit antennagroup.com.

Resources:
Rob Creighton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-creighton-3572702/
Windlift
Antenna Group
Keith Zakheim LinkedIn