Kitepower, the Dutch pioneer in airborne wind energy systems (AWES), is launching a new crowdfunding campaign to scale the deployment of its mobile wind power solutions. Following the successful introduction of a rental-first strategy and key international collaborations, this campaign marks an exciting opportunity for anyone to participate in Kitepower’s journey toward reshaping renewable energy generation. The funds raised will be used to scale production, further develop the technology, and bring Kitepower systems to more locations worldwide.

Kitepower systems generate electricity by flying kites

Kitepower’s technology unlocks access to wind energy in locations that are unsuitable for traditional turbines. You can now express interest in limited Kitepower shares and support this clean energy revolution.

The vision

In the race to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the world urgently needs innovative renewable energy solutions that go beyond the status quo. Kitepower provides a lightweight, mobile, and highly efficient alternative to conventional wind turbines by using large kites to harvest electricity at higher altitudes. These systems drastically reduce material use—by up to 90%—while maintaining a high energy yield and a strong capacity factor.

Kitepower’s mobile 100 kW system, the Hawk, is especially suited for off-grid applications, construction sites, islands, and other remote areas. Since November 2024, the system has been available for rental, enabling businesses to access clean energy on demand without large upfront investments. This rental-first approach lowers the barrier to adoption and speeds up the transition to renewables.

Strong momentum and key partnerships

Kitepower has been steadily expanding its partnerships and technology. In September 2024, the company teamed up with French startup Beyond the Sea to further develop kite designs, tapping into new applications beyond land-based energy generation. The company was also nominated for the 2024 Earthshot Prize, a testament to its potential to drive large-scale impact in the renewable energy space.

Proven technology with strong backing

With over €4.1 million raised in previous funding rounds, Kitepower has successfully developed and tested its mobile airborne wind systems, proving their viability in real-world conditions. The company is now entering the next phase, bringing its technology to market on a larger scale.
“The future of airborne wind energy is about smarter, more adaptable solutions,” said Johannes Peschel, CEO of Kitepower. “With our airborne wind energy systems, we unlock the power of the wind where traditional turbines can’t go—using a fraction of the materials and at a lower cost. This crowdfunding campaign gives investors a unique opportunity to be part of a game-changing shift in renewable energy.”

About Kitepower

Kitepower, a leading start-up in airborne wind energy systems (AWES), develops innovative and cost-effective alternatives to existing wind turbines by using kites to generate electricity. Thanks to the company’s patented game-changing technology, the Dutch start-up aims to tackle the global energy issue by offering system integrators that operate distributed energy grids a scalable technology that can significantly decrease CO2 emissions, therefore, accelerate the race to zero emissions. 

Kitepower (registered trademark of Enevate BV), co-founded in 2016 by Johannes Peschel and TU Delft associate professor Roland Schmehl, is a spin-off from the TU Delft’s Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) research group. The company has developed its Airborne Wind Energy System (AWES) with a ‘Fast Track to Innovation’ grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 framework programme, guided by a mentoring partnership with tech incubator YES!Delft and with support from late wind energy expert and angel investor Henk Hutting (1952-2021).

Kitepower was established as a result of the work done by TU Delft’s pioneering kite power research group of the former astronaut Wubbo Ockels. Research in AWE generation was initiated by Wubbo Ockels in 1993, followed by a patent application for the Laddermill technology in 1997. Already in 2007, the first 20kW Kitepower system demonstrated the proof of concept. Currently, Kitepower is developing one of the first containerised on-shore AWES to enter the market.

About Fundernation

Fundernation is a leading European equity crowdfunding platform that connects startups and growth-stage companies with investors who want to support impactful innovation. The platform allows anyone to invest in promising ventures and be part of their journey from early-stage to scale.

---