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-gated at launchKPS 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]