[Grustaf]

A scam? That's one elaborate scam! I mean you have some 40 organisations around the world working on kite energy, including Google X and several leading universities. It's almost like it would be more impressive if it actually were a scam. But it's not of course.

As to the tether, people are of course aware of the requirements it needs to fulfil, you can even find calculations about it online. Making it strong enough and still light is not a problem, the challenge is really in combining a structural tether with a conducting cable. It is a challenge, true, but it's far from impossible and there are several possible designs.

Makani's 600 kW prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An8vtD1FDqs

[Houshalter]

Bad ideas often get funding and support from prestigious seeming institutions. Look at the stupid waterseer thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsqIjAeeXw