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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As part of the Dike Reinforcement Tiel-Waardenburg project, Dura Vermeer is exploring how our  technology can support their transition to emission-free, sustainable construction. The project already operates 40 heavy electric machines, such as cranes and trucks, running on green electricity, making it one of the Netherlands’ frontrunners in clean construction. The addition of Kitepower’s system, combined with battery storage from Greener Power Solutions will help provide renewable power on-site, reducing the need for diesel generators.

“Working with an innovator like Dura Vermeer gives us a fantastic opportunity to further develop our technology in real-world conditions,” says Kitepower Founder Johannes Peschel. “It’s an exciting step toward bringing airborne wind energy into the mainstream for construction and beyond.”

Dura Vermeer’s team is committed to ambitious climate targets, aiming to cut CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. Their innovation manager, Evan van der Holst, sees great potential: “This is a chance to learn what this technology can mean for the construction sector. We’re gathering valuable data and experience to help advance this innovation.”

At Kitepower, we’re excited to contribute to Dura Vermeer’s mission and to demonstrate how airborne wind energy can play a role in building a greener future. Over the coming months, the system’s performance will be closely monitored and evaluated, and we look forward to sharing the results.

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Advancing airborne wind energy, one cycle at a time

Every flight cycle brings us closer to realizing the full potential of airborne wind energy. Operating 30% of all working days proves that our system is capable of consistent, real-world performance. With each launch and landing, we gather critical data to refine our technology, increase efficiency, and enhance reliability.

By continuously testing and optimizing our system, we are paving the way for a future where Kitepower can deliver renewable energy to remote areas, off-grid communities, and industries looking for a sustainable power solution.

What’s next?

Reaching this flight record is an important step, but we’re not stopping here. Our team is focused on further improving uptime and operational capacity to maximize energy output. With every cycle, we are getting closer to making airborne wind energy a scalable, accessible alternative to conventional wind power.

Follow our journey as we continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Kitepower!

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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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Reliable, clean energy for remote locations

The Kitepower Hawk system generates 1 up to 4 MWh of clean energy per week, seamlessly integrating with battery storage for a continuous, zero-emissions power supply. Ideal for off-grid construction sites, military operations, and temporary installations, the Hawk offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel generators, and logistically complex and cost-ineffective battery swaps.

A recent deployment for the Dutch Ministry of Defence on Aruba demonstrated the Hawk system’s ability to deliver reliable green energy in remote locations. Now, through Skoon’s platform, companies can rent the Hawk system, ensuring a sustainable and efficient energy source for their operations.

Why rent the Hawk system?

• Quick, flexible deployment: The Hawk’s compact design, housed in a 20ft shipping container, makes it easy to transport and install at remote sites.
• Zero emissions on site: The Hawk provides clean, renewable energy, supporting sustainability goals and compliance with environmental regulations.
• Cost-effective: Renting the Hawk system removes the need for expensive diesel generators and lowers overall operational costs.

A sustainable energy solution for the future

By making the Kitepower Hawk available through Skoon, Kitepower offers businesses a scalable solution for powering off-grid operations sustainably. This partnership highlights the increasing demand for clean, mobile energy systems that reduce carbon footprints and help meet environmental commitments.

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Bridging the Gap in Renewable Energy Generation

As the world moves towards a carbon-free future, demand for renewable energy is surging. However, traditional sources like solar and conventional wind turbines are limited by factors such as low-wind areas, insufficient sunlight, limited land availability, underdeveloped infrastructure, and complex installation in floating offshore environments. Kitepower’s airborne wind energy systems provide an ideal solution to these challenges, offering a flexible and cost-effective alternative in key sectors:

• Construction: With many projects stalled due to emission restrictions, such as the €1.2 billion in planned developments in the Netherlands, Kitepower can help construction companies decarbonize their operations and provide on-site energy access.
  
• Filling the gap of traditional wind: Kitepower can unlock 80 GW of untapped wind potential in Germany alone, providing a viable solution to help Germany meet its target of 8 GW of annual wind power capacity in regions where traditional wind is not feasible.
  
• Energy Companies: For offshore wind farms, particularly in floating offshore locations, Kitepower offers a cost-effective way to harness green energy in difficult-to-reach environments on floating platforms.

Kitepower’s rental-first model provides European construction companies with a low-risk entry point to electrify their machinery fleets with sustainable on-site energy. Customers can test the benefits of airborne wind energy — emission-free power generation — at competitive rates, without committing to long-term investments. The first customer will gain a first-mover advantage, including priority service and delivery of future Kitepower systems.

“Our customers need flexible, low-cost options to explore new technologies,” said Johannes Peschel, CEO of Kitepower. “Our rental-first model offers a win-win: businesses can experience Kitepower and get access to clean energy with minimal upfront investment, while we gather valuable feedback to improve future Kitepower systems.”

A phased approach to clean energy access – the future is now

Starting in mid-2025, Kitepower’s system will deliver an initial energy yield of 1 MWh per week, with projections to rise to 4 MWh per week as kite and flight efficiency improve. This solution is designed for areas without access to the grid and will help shape the development of Kitepower’s Falcon system, which is expected to offer a 5-7 year ROI.

Looking to the future

Kitepower’s rental-first model addresses the growing demand for flexible, affordable clean energy, enabling businesses to adopt sustainable practices while advancing airborne wind energy innovation. This strategy also accelerates the global energy transition by unlocking untapped wind potential and providing an affordable renewable solution for a wider range of locations.

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This announcement follows discussions aimed at demonstrating a Kitepower system and assessing the feasibility of La Gomera Island as an Airborne Wind Energy Center of Excellence. CT Ingenieros, Kitepower’s primary partner in the project, with the support of the Island Government, is planning to construct a Flight Test Center on the island, with Kitepower as the first occupants.

The project, scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, will consist of three phases. The initial phase will involve a three-month demonstration and feasibility study with our system onsite to showcase the capabilities of the FTC. The second phase will focus on power production for a duration of one to two years, followed by continuous operation in the third phase spanning four to six years.

Airborne wind energy innovation

“This collaboration represents a significant milestone for both Kitepower and the entire Airborne Wind Energy industry,” stated Johannes Peschel, CEO of Kitepower. “We are excited to demonstrate our systems and explore the potential of La Gomera as a hub for airborne wind energy innovation. This project will not only advance our technological capabilities but also contribute to the economic, social, and environmental objectives of La Gomera.”

“CT is proud to be a part of this groundbreaking project,” said Agustin Arjonilla, Senior Consultant at CT. “We believe that Airborne Wind Energy has the potential to revolutionise the way we generate clean energy, and we are confident that this testing site will play a key role in advancing this technology in this particular area.“.

The partnership between Kitepower and CT underscores the importance of public-private collaborations in fostering innovation and sustainable development. La Gomera sees this project as an opportunity to diversify its economy and emerge as a leading center for energy generation and technological advancement.

A few weeks ago, Kristian Petrick, Secretary General of the sector association Airborne Wind Europe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cabildo of La Gomera: “We are very grateful for the opportunity that La Gomera offers to the AWE sector. With CT Ingenieros and Kitepower leading the project, we are confident that we will see the first kites flying on La Gomera already by the end of this year, demonstrating how fast this technology can be implemented.”.

About CT

CT is a leading engineering company throughout the complete product lifecycle. For more than 35 years, our mission has been to provide innovative services and technological solutions that help our clients be more effective and competitive. Today, CT´s success is driven by 2.000+ engineers in seven countries providing end-to-end expert support to leading customers in the aeronautical, space, naval, automotive, railway, energy and industrial plant sectors.  

About Airborne Wind Europe

Airborne Wind Europe is the association of the Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) sector. It promotes the development and deployment of AWE Systems, i.e. tethered kites that generate energy from high-altitude wind. Airborne Wind Europe encourages collaboration and exchange between technology developers, policy makers, research institutes and universities, as well as other stakeholders like public administration and authorities, suppliers, utilities, energy consumers, investors and financial institutions.

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With a track record of pioneering AWE systems that promise to reshape the renewable energy landscape, Kitepower has been instrumental in advocating for the integration of AWE into national energy policies. Today, the company celebrates the culmination of these efforts as Germany, a key player in Europe’s renewable energy transition, embraces AWE as part of its energy strategy.

Solarpakket

Recent developments in the German parliament saw the approval of the “Solarpakket,” which includes provisions for AWE-specific tariffs within the EEG. This historic decision marks the first time such measures have been implemented, signaling a major recognition of AWE’s potential contribution to the renewable energy mix.

Speaking on the significance of this milestone, Johannes Peschel, Kitepower’s CEO remarked, “This is a historic moment for the AWE industry and for sustainable energy as a whole. Germany’s decision to include AWE in its renewable energy framework not only validates our technology but also paves the way for accelerated adoption across Germany, Europe and beyond.”

Benefits

The incorporation of AWE-specific tariffs within the EEG is poised to unlock a range of benefits for the industry. These include enhanced access to financing, heightened international visibility, improved research and development conditions, regulatory adaptations, and the strengthening of European industrial leadership in renewable energy innovation.

As Kitepower continues to push the boundaries of renewable energy technology, the company remains committed to driving positive change and shaping a sustainable future for generations to come. With AWE gaining recognition and support on the global stage, the potential for clean, reliable, and scalable energy solutions has never been brighter.

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With the recently obtained BVLOS permit from the ILT, Kitepower’s innovative kites, the Hawk and the Falcon, can now operate without a person ‘on-site’, utilizing remote monitoring instead. This substantially decreases the cost of operation and increases the operational range of the kites, enabling Kitepower to generate wind energy in previously inaccessible areas, including offshore wind farms. The ILT permit also allows Kitepower to conduct BVLOS flights in segregated and atypical airspace, creating new opportunities for deploying the kites in locations with specific regulations or restrictions. This permit represents a significant advancement in the commercialisation process for Kitepower, opening the door to larger-scale deployment of their technology products, further enhancing the efficiency of energy generation.

Milestone

“This permit is a crucial milestone for Kitepower,” says CEO Johannes Peschel. “It enables us to further develop and demonstrate our technology to potential customers. This permit not only enhances the commercial attractiveness of our technology but also opens the door to new applications and market segments. We are confident that BVLOS flights will play a crucial role in our operations and the future of wind energy in general.“

ILT granted Kitepower the permit after an extensive safety assessment of the technology. Throughout this process, Kitepower conducted comprehensive tests to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the kites. To date Kitepower had been flying under a ‘Visual Line of Sight’ permit which required a trained operator on site. Under the most recent European drone legislation, the ILT permit can be used as the basis for a cross-border application in order to fly in any other European country. The EU legislation and recent permit will help enable rapid deployments of Kitepower systems in places where portable power is needed. Construction sites, agriculture and island communities, currently relying on diesel generators, can now benefit from renewable power generation and storage on site.

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Johannes Peschel, CEO, and co-founder of Kitepower, expressed enthusiasm, stating: “We are extremely proud to be part of the inaugural group of the NATO Diana Accelerator. It shows clear support for our aim to revolutionize off-grid energy with the first renewable energy solution that is also mobile. Access to the network, expertise and test locations of NATO allows us to further validate our Kite-powered Battery Energy Storage System, or Kite BESS, for deployments in a remote dual-use setting.”

NATO DIANA was launched in 2023 and aims to bring start-ups together with operational end users, scientists, and systems integrators to advance compelling deep tech with dual-use solutions for the Alliance. It leverages a network of more than 10 affiliated accelerator sites and nearly 90 test centers. Kitepower will be supported by the Takeoff DIANA Accelerator in Turin (Italy) focused on the aerospace and advanced hardware sectors. The project will support kite design, modeling and control  improvements as well as demonstration of operational robustness of the Kitepower Hawk. Following the project, Kitepower plans to productize and scale up the solution to a remarkable 1 MWh storage and 100 kW power, further solidifying its position as a leader in the mobile renewable energy sector.

The recently announced Kitepower Hawk is set to revolutionize off-grid energy by introducing the world’s premier mobile renewable energy solution. The ground-breaking system seamlessly integrates a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a kite for in-situ charging, providing a clean, independent, and cost-effective alternative to conventional mobile diesel generators. It opens new avenues for deploying renewable energy in markets where temporary power or mobile energy storage is essential.

Tackling Energy Challenges in Remote Settings

In remote or challenging-to-access settings, energy supply often relies on diesel generators, presenting operational challenges, high costs, and substantial CO2 emissions. Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS) offer an alternative but require frequent recharging, typically using energy from fossil fuels. Kitepower’s kite system, connected in-situ to a battery energy storage, presents a solution that addresses these challenges. The Kite-powered BESS is cost-effective, using 80% fewer materials than alternative renewables, ensuring minimal installation effort, and requiring only occasional consumable resupply. The system is largely autonomous and can be operated by two people, making it a reliable and efficient choice for remote or temporary settings.

The Airborne Wind Energy technology employed by Kitepower represents a breakthrough, boasting an 80% reduction in material usage compared to conventional wind energy. The scalability of the technology to at least 10 MW and its potential for fully automated rigid-winged drones as kites highlight the immense possibilities in the renewable energy landscape. Kitepower, closely following its go-to-market roadmap, has demonstrated a 60m2 prototype in Aruba, showcasing the efficiency and scalability of its concept.

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