Italian oil and gas contractor Saipem is to work with compatriot company KiteGen Venture on the development, construction and commercialisation of the latter’s kite technology to produce electricity from high altitude wind.
The technology aims to generate 3MW of electricity through kites connected to a ground-based generator.
The agreement with Saipem aims to generate more efficient from altitudes of over 1000 metres.
Higher altitudes provide a higher and more constant wind speed resulting in a greater capacity factor that conventional wind turbines, the partners said.
The kites are also lighter than conventional machines and so cheaper to fabricate, they added.
Saipem and KiteGen will work on the possible application of the technology offshore in deep waters where wind turbines cannot be installed.
The technology could also be offered to Saipem clients as a hybrid solution to integrate with traditional power sources in the oil and gas sector.