Natural Power is supporting Kite Power Solutions with its proposals for consenting a test and development site at RAF West Freugh in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
The West Freugh location, which is operated by QinetiQ, was selected after consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority.
A rolling five-year lease for the demo site was signed in February, with the first kite system flying expected in April 2017.
Oil major Royal Dutch Shell and the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change have supported the £3m development so far.
KPS has designed, built and demonstrated a 40kW proof of concept system, regularly flying at its current base at Bradwell-On-Sea Airfield in Essex.
A 500kW pre-commercial demo has also been designed.
The company is seeking £5.5m worth of investment to start the next phase of development, which includes relocation to the West Freugh site.
Natural Power said the Scottish site already has ‘controlled airspace’ status, and will enable testing of the kites at heights up to 500 metres.
KPS intends to have its 500kW system available for commercial sale by 2021 and will have also deployed a floating 3MW system.
The company’s ambition is to harvest winds found offshore by tethering two kites to each mooring to capture the wind.
Each kite flies in a figure of eight, drawing out the tether and generating power at the winch.
Natural Power principal consultant – planning and development services Euan Hutchison said: “This is an exciting and innovative technology, which has the potential to bring significant community benefits to the area, including employment and investment, should permission be granted.
“Our ecologists are already on the ground at West Freugh to determine a plan of action for mitigating any risks to local wildlife, and we are keen to engage with local stakeholders to help bring this exciting development to fruition.”
Image: Kite Power Solutions
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Consultancy hired to help with consent for new test site in Scotland
By EBS