Adrian J
TLDR:
- Kitemill has developed a kite-like wind power generator called KM2, which is more efficient and smaller than traditional wind turbines.
- The company raised over €2 million through crowdfunding and received additional investments to advance its technology.
A new airborne wind energy prototype developed by tech company Kitemill, called KM2, is revolutionizing wind power generation. The kite-like generator, with a wingspan of 16 meters, flies at over 1,000 feet and can produce 100 kilowatts of power. KM2 is able to reach higher altitudes compared to traditional wind turbines, making it more efficient and requiring less material consumption. Kitemill has successfully raised over €2 million through crowdfunding efforts and attracted investments from various sources to further develop and commercialize its technology for a more sustainable future.
Full Article:
A new airborne wind energy prototype developed by tech company Kitemill is taking off. KM2, a kite-like wind power generator shaped like a toy throwing plane with a wingspan of 16 meters (about 52 feet), flies at over 1,000 feet and generates an average power cycle of 100 kilowatts — enough energy to meet the needs of an average-size restaurant or office when the generator is operating. Like other airborne wind energy, KM2 differs from wind tech such as traditional turbines in its ability to reach higher altitudes and harness higher volumes of wind. This allows KM2 to reach full power in less wind, making it more efficient and allowing it to create more energy relative to its installed capacity. KM2 also uses less than 10% of the materials used to make traditional wind turbines, and is easy to install and relocate with less intrusion and damage to the environment, making it low-cost and low-impact.
Thanks to crowdfunding efforts, reported on by Power Engineering International, Kitemill hopes to soon commercialize its technology based on KM1 and KM2 prototypes. The campaign closed in January 2023 and made over €2 million thanks to investments from the Norse Airborne Wind Energy Project backed by the EU Innovation Fund. Kitemill also attracted investments from Expanding Dreams, the investment vehicle of the Polderman family from the Netherlands, as well as thousands of other investors globally.
“As demonstrated by our involvement in the Norse Airborne Wind Energy Project there will be many opportunities to deploy the KM2 system over the coming years in fast-track pipeline projects around the globe,” Hårklau told Renewable Energy Magazine. Kitemill hopes to scale up the system to a wingspan of 40 meters, with the potential to generate up to 3,000 kilowatts. The company aims to play a significant role in achieving an emissions-free society by 2050.
