A consortium led by Kite Power Solutions has won a £1m grant from the UK government’s Innovate UK Energy Catalyst to help the development of its kite power generation technology.
The grant will be used to scale-up KPS’s technology to a 500kW kite turbine and validate the commercial viability of 3MW floating offshore arrays.
KPS is aiming to deploy its first 3MW power system onshore in 2019 and offshore by 2021.
The company is targeting the offshore wind power generation market because it said the kite technology can reduce the capex of conventional offshore turbines by as much as 50%.
This is because its power system doesn’t require large quantities of steel or specialist installation vessels, KPS said.
The system has two kites that are flown on a man-made fibre tether between 500 and 750 metres in length; the tether is attached to a winch system that generates electricity as it spools out.
By achieving flight speeds of up to 100mph in 20mph winds, the kite’s tether tension causes the line to rapidly spool out from a drum, which turns a generator producing electricity.
The consortium involves six partners. They are: BVG Associates; Artemis Intelligent Power; Imperial College; The National Composites Centre; Keynvor Morlift; and Banks Sails.
The two-year project also includes engagement with the public and environmental interests to assess the impacts of the rollout and operation of the kite power technology.
Image: Kite Power
