Kite Power Systems (KPS) Demonstrator
West Freugh, Scotland · 2017–Present (500kW system planned for deployment in 2017, 40kW system flight tested) [1] [2] · £5 million (funding from E.ON, Shell, and others) [2]
The judgement call
Account action unavailableKPS aims to halve the cost of production and deployment of wind energy compared to traditional wind turbines. The technology provides continuous power production and offers a mobile, efficient, and on-site solution for generating electricity. [3]
Key engineering challenges
Developing and testing airborne wind energy systems that can efficiently harness high-altitude winds. [1] - Ensuring the reliability and safety of kite-based power generation. [1] - Automating the launch, flight, and landing of the power kites. [1] - Integrating the generated power into the grid or for off-grid applications. [1]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Kite Power Systems (KPS)
- Lead contractor
- —
- Lead designers
- Kite Power Systems (KPS)
- Project type
- new build (demonstrator)
- Scale
- 40 kW system flight tested; 500 kW onshore power system planned. [1] [2]
- Disciplines
- aeronautical; mechanical; electrical; software engineering; materials science
- Standards & frameworks
- —
Sources: Aerotrope: KPS: Kite Power Systems - Wind Energy Design (https://www.aerotrope.com/what-we-do/wind/wind-turbine-design-case-studies/case-study-kps.html) [1] - LinkedIn: Kite Power Systems secures £5m funding from E.ON, Shell (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/kite-power-systems-secures-5m-funding-from-eon-shell-van-de-wouw) [2] - Physics World: The promise and challenges of airborne wind energy (https://physicsworld.com/a/the-promise-and-challenges-of-airborne-wind-energy/) [3]