The DEM-AWE (Demonstrating Mobile Airborne Wind Energy) project has successfully come to an end, marking a significant step forward in the development and deployment of mobile AWE systems. As a natural successor to the MegaAWE project, DEM-AWE enabled critical testing and refinement of Kitepower’s first product, the K-BESS (Kite-Battery Energy Storage System), pushing the system closer to commercial readiness.

Testing in Ireland strengthens system performance

The project’s testing campaign was conducted at the RWE Airborne Wind Energy dedicated test site in Bangor Erris, County Mayo, Ireland, and proved to be a pivotal phase in validating the system under challenging conditions. The demanding environment on the West Coast of Ireland allowed the team to test system resilience, control algorithms, and operational procedures. These trials contributed directly to improving the robustness and reliability of the solution, which was designed for mobile, and off-grid deployment.

Battery integration and pilot deployment in the Netherlands

Earlier this year, Kitepower integrated an external battery system from Greener Power Solutions, a key technology partner. This implementation and initial testing were conducted in Bangor Erris as part of the system’s testing phase before deployment at Kitepower’s commercial site.

Following validation, the complete system was deployed during a pilot project in the Netherlands with construction company Dura Vermeer, where it was tested to power electric excavators and trucks, showcasing how Airborne Wind Energy can contribute directly to sustainable, large-scale construction operations such as a riverbank renovation.

The Consortium behind DEM-AWE

The DEM-AWE project (funded by Interreg North-West Europe) was made possible by a dedicated consortium of partners:

• Airborne Wind Europe – Project leader, responsible for policy coordination, sector engagement, and communications
  
• Laminak Energy – Commercialization support and project management
  
• Mayo County Council – Stakeholder engagement and permitting

Special thanks are extended to RWE for supporting the project and for enabling the critical testing campaign in Ireland with the integrated battery. 

Powering the future of EU Islands

As DEM-AWE concludes, Kitepower is turning its focus to new opportunities, particularly in supporting EU island communities in their efforts to decarbonize. Many of these regions rely on diesel imports and face high energy costs. The knowledge and experience gained through DEM-AWE will now be applied to demonstrate how Kitepower’s mobile AWE systems can offer reliable, clean, and locally generated energy for remote and isolated grids.

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Kitepower has had a very successful start in its testing programme, achieving over 90 flights and 100 hours of test time. With its vast space and excellent wind conditions, the RWE test site is perfect for scaling up Kitepower’s innovative technology. The extension for the site will allow Kitepower to finalise testing of its kite system and advance research on larger-scale airborne wind energy solutions.

Team expansion on site

This extended collaboration strengthens the relationship between Kitepower and RWE and provides valuable insights into the large-scale offshore potential of airborne wind energy. Kitepower has established a permanent crew on-site to ensure continuous research and development efforts.

Johannes Peschel, CEO of Kitepower, shared, “This extended collaboration not only strengthens the partnership between Kitepower and RWE but also opens the door to valuable insights into the large-scale offshore potential of airborne wind energy. Flights have increased to five per week on average, with total flight time surpassing 35 hours. Our test kite, the Falcon, now has a capacity of up to 100 kW, compared to the 30 kW capacity of our smaller Hawk system.”

Peter Lefroy, Head of Offshore Development, RWE Ireland & UK West, said, “We are pleased that RWE will continue to partner with Kitepower to further develop this new wind energy technology. RWE is exploring many different technical innovations to identify whether airborne wind technology could complement our existing renewables portfolio of offshore and onshore wind, solar energy, and battery storage.”

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Expanding Renewable Energy

The DEM-AWE project will use airborne wind energy (AWE) to power a mobile battery storage system. This innovative approach has the potential to provide renewable energy to places that are hard to reach, like islands and rural areas, as well as to industries like construction and agriculture.

Partnership and Support

The DEM-AWE project is supported by the Interreg North-West Europe programme and includes a group of partners:

• Kitepower (Netherlands): The developer of the K-BESS technology.
• Airborne Wind Europe: An organization promoting airborne wind energy.
• BlueWise Marine (Ireland): Providing local expertise and support.
• Laminak Energy (France): Offering market analysis and consultancy.
• Mayo County Council (Ireland): Engaging with the local community.

How It Works

Over the next 12 months, Kitepower will lead the demonstration of the K-BESS system and continue its development of the Hawk. This pre-commercial demonstrator can charge a 400kWh battery in 10 hours, providing a reliable source of renewable energy. The trial will collect important data and feedback to help improve the technology.

Planning for the Future

BlueWise Marine and Laminak Energy will use the results from the demonstration to create a plan for introducing K-BESS and other airborne wind energy systems to the market in northwestern Europe. This will include using GIS models to identify the best locations for these technologies.

Airborne Wind Europe will share the demonstration results and work to include K-BESS in regional energy plans. Mayo County Council will help engage the local community, ensuring they understand and support this new technology.

The DEM-AWE project is a major step towards meeting Europe’s energy goals. By bringing renewable energy to more places and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, Kitepower and its partners are helping to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.

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Kitepower was selected for the prestigious NATO DIANA Accelerator program from over 1600 applications. Through the program, the company has been able to further validate its revolutionary Kite-powered Battery Energy Storage Systems (Kite BESS) Hawk and Falcon for dual use applications. Kitepower has been working with the Dutch Ministry of Defense in the Netherlands since 2018 in various research & development projects. The NATO DIANA program has allowed Kitepower to significantly strengthen its mission readiness levels enabling the use of the Kite BESS to replace diesel gensets and reduce reliance on vulnerable supply chains of fossil fuels.

Highlights:

• Innovative Dual-Use Technology: The Kite BESS Hawk integrates airborne wind energy with battery storage, providing a mobile, renewable energy solution that is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
• Operational Robustness: Program participation has enhanced kite design, modeling, and control, ensuring the operational robustness of the Kite BESS Hawk in remote and challenging environments.
• Scalability and Future Plans: Post-demonstration, Kitepower plans to scale up the solution to 1 MWh storage and 100 kW power, solidifying its leadership in mobile renewable energy.

Johannes Peschel, CEO and co-founder of Kitepower, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are extremely proud to be part of the inaugural group of the NATO DIANA Accelerator Programme. This opportunity has significantly advanced our mission to revolutionise off-grid energy with our mobile renewable energy solution. The support from NATO and the expertise we’ve gained have been invaluable in demonstrating the capabilities of our Kite BESS Hawk.”

Kite BESS Hawk: a game-changer for off-grid energy

The Kite BESS Hawk is set to disrupt the off-grid energy sector by offering a clean, mobile, and cost-effective alternative to traditional diesel generators. This innovative system integrates a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a kite for in-situ charging, eliminating dependence on fossil fuels. It presents exciting possibilities for deploying renewable energy in remote locations where temporary power or mobile energy storage is essential.

Addressing energy challenges in remote areas

Remote areas often rely on diesel generators for power, which leads to high costs, operational challenges, and significant CO2 emissions. While BESS offers an alternative, they typically require frequent recharging using fossil fuels. Kitepower’s kite system, seamlessly connected to a BESS, provides a sustainable and efficient solution.

Revolutionizing wind energy with airborne technology

Kitepower’s Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) technology represents a paradigm shift, with an 80% reduction in material usage compared to traditional wind energy systems. The technology’s scalability to at least 10 MW and potential for fully automated rigid-winged drones as kites highlight the future possibilities in renewable energy. Aligned with its go-to-market strategy, Kitepower has successfully tested a 60m2 prototype in Aruba, validating the system’s efficiency and scalability.

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