When communities learn how kite-based systems work and understand their environmental benefits, they tend to view the technology with interest and openness. Greater public understanding of airborne wind energy (AWE) could open doors for broader acceptance.

These insights come from a PhD study by Helena Schmidt, who completed her doctorate at Delft University of Technology on October 31, 2025, after 4.5 years of research on how communities perceive and accept airborne wind energy systems. Her work offers one of the first in-depth perspectives on how people respond to airborne wind energy in real settings.

Compared to traditional wind turbines, airborne systems raise fewer concerns about noise and landscape impact. At the same time, AWE remains relatively new, and public familiarity with it is still limited. More communication, education, and visible demonstrations will be essential to help communities understand the technology’s potential and build lasting trust.

This growing awareness opens great opportunities to accelerate the energy transition. Airborne wind energy can harness stronger and steadier winds at higher altitudes while using less material and space than conventional turbines. These characteristics make it a flexible and sustainable addition to the renewable energy mix, particularly in areas where installing large wind turbines is not feasible or the local communities oppose them.

Helena’s research also highlights the importance of local engagement. Communities that were informed early and had opportunities to ask questions or observe demonstrations showed higher levels of acceptance and confidence in the technology. This underlines that trust and dialogue are just as important as technical performance when introducing new renewable solutions.

Helena completed her PhD on October 31, 2025, under the supervision of Dr Roland Schmehl, one of the founders of Kitepower. Kitepower contributed to the research by providing input and operational data from its test site in Bangor Erris, County Mayo, Ireland. The collaboration helped connect academic research with real-world experience, giving a more complete understanding of how airborne wind systems are perceived by local communities.

At Kitepower, we congratulate Helena on this achievement and thank her for her valuable contribution to the field. Her work strengthens the foundation for socially responsible and widely accepted deployment of airborne wind energy. Thanks to studies like this, businesses and consumers can look forward to faster access to clean, flexible, and sustainable energy from kites.

Watch Helena’s defence in this link.

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