Delft/Bordeaux, October 10, 2023 – Kitepower, a Dutch start-up, and Beyond the Sea, a French start-up, have signed a partnership agreement. The two companies will collaborate on kite design and technology with mutually exclusive applications, emphasizing sustainable energy and marine propulsion.

The partnership will focus on the development of an automated system for launching, retrieving, inflating, deflating, and storing kites from 40 to 60 square meters. This system will improve the safety and efficiency of kite use, and will further reduce the costs of this technology. The partners will also look for future opportunities to collaborate in manufacturing and grant applications, helping both organizations to accelerate their product development.

Energy innovation

Kitepower is a leading player in the airborne wind energy sector. The company has developed a unique and cost-effective technology that enables kites to be used at scale for electricity generation. Beyond the Sea is an innovative company that focuses on the development of sustainable marine propulsion systems. The company has developed a kite propulsion technology that can reduce CO2 emissions.

“We are very excited to partner with Beyond the Sea,” says Kitepower’s CEO Johannes Peschel. “Both companies have strong expertise in kite design and technology. By combining our strengths and experiences, we can make a significant contribution to the development of sustainable energy sources and marine propulsion.”

“We are delighted with this new partnership,” say together Yves Parlier, Chairman of Beyond the Sea and Marc Thienpont, CEO. “Kitepower is a leading player in the airborne wind energy sector. By working together, we can accelerate the development of our marine propulsion technology and increase our contribution to the decarbonization of shipping.”

About Kitepower

Kitepower is a leading start-up in Airborne Wind Energy (AWE), developing innovative and cost-effective alternatives to existing wind turbines. Kitepower’s patented technology is a game-changer in the wind energy sector: Kitepower uses up to 90% less material with the potential of being twice as efficient than conventional wind turbines with the same power output. Unlike conventional wind turbines, Kitepower systems do not require resource-intensive towers nor heavy foundations and are thus highly mobile and easy to deploy. The system is able to harness stronger and more persistent winds at higher altitudes, allowing for capacity factors greater than 0.5 and cost-effective electricity generation in return. Kitepower’s leading product, the Kitepower Falcon, is specially designed to allow remote communities worldwide to mitigate dependency on polluting and expensive diesel supply.

About Beyond the Sea

Beyond the Sea, created by Yves Parlier, develops and commercializes kite traction systems able to deliver part or all of the energy needed to propel a ship depending on the navigation area, the performance and the characteristics of the boat. The company aims to answer the problem of energy dependence of shipowners with a goal to decarbonize maritime transport.

The company has developed SeaKite, a fully automated kite traction system, to reduce the emissions of the equipped vessel.

Connected to the boat by its lines, SeaKite pilots itself automatically and can fly statically or dynamically depending on the desired traction force. The kite can be used alone or in addition to another mode of propulsion. Currently available in several different sizes, the system adapts to all types of boats.