Kite Power Company Secures €2m Investment for Wind Energy Innovation

Norwegian wind energy developer Kitemill has recently announced that it has secured over €2 million in funding from Dutch investment entity Expanding Dreams. This funding, combined with contributions from smaller investors and a tax relief grant, will cover the majority of the company's planned activities for 2024.

Kitemill's innovative technology involves the use of a tethered glider to generate power. The glider is initially launched using a small motor-driven propeller. Once in the air, the glider pulls against its tether, unwinding it from a drum. The rotation of the drum then generates electrical power. When the glider reaches its furthest extent, it drops towards the drum, allowing the tether to be re-wound effortlessly. This pull-rewind cycle continues until the wind stops.

The company has developed specific flight patterns that enable the aircraft to maximize the energy generated during pulling. According to Kitemill, the system spends 90% of its time generating power and only 10% rewinding the tether. This efficient design allows for a continuous supply of renewable energy.

"With this influx of resources, we aim to expedite the development of our current model, KM1, and the forthcoming KM2," said Kitemill CEO Thomas Hårklau. "These models represent significant advancements in harnessing high-altitude wind. The investment also reinforces Kitemill's Dutch connection, including the former e-Kite team now working under our banner, a mix of Dutch shareholders, and the involvement of Technical University Delft."

The KM2 model, which has been in development for over two years, boasts a 16m wingspan and can generate 100kW over an average cycle. Kitemill emphasizes that high-altitude wind power is approximately four times stronger than ground-level resources. Their approach allows for continuous adjustment of harvesting altitude to seek the best available wind resource. Additionally, constructing a Kitemill requires only a tenth of the materials needed to make a traditional wind turbine.

With this recent funding, Kitemill is well-positioned to further advance their wind energy technology and contribute to the growing renewable energy sector.