Exploring the Potential of Airborne Wind Energy with Kitepower

Last week, Blackfish Engineering had the opportunity to visit Kitepower at the RWE Airborne Wind Energy test site in Bangor Erris, County Mayo, Ireland. Jonathan Powell, Managing Director of Blackfish, and Jack Millar, Sales Engineer, gained valuable insights into airborne wind energy technology and the challenges that must be addressed as the industry progresses towards offshore deployment.

Kitepower, founded in 2016 as a spin-off from https://www.tudelft.nl/en/’s kite power research group, is pioneering innovative airborne wind energy systems (AWES). Their technology harnesses wind energy at higher altitudes, where winds are stronger and more consistent, using significantly less material than traditional wind turbines. This approach not only reduces costs but also enhances efficiency, making airborne wind energy a compelling alternative for renewable power generation.

While weather conditions limited activities on the first day, we were fortunate to witness the launch of the Hawk test kite and multiple power-generating cycles the following day – a fantastic demonstration of the system in action.

A huge thank you to Andrei Luca, pictured here with Jon Powell, Managing Director of Blackfish, and the Kitepower operations team, for their warm hospitality and valuable insights during our visit.

How Does the Kitepower Hawk Work?

For those unfamiliar with airborne wind energy, the Kitepower Hawk operates through two key phases:

Reel-out phase – The kite flies in a figure-eight pattern, generating power by pulling on its Dyneema tether, which unwinds from a ground station spool and drives a generator.
Reel-in phase – Once the kite reaches peak altitude, the system retracts it using only a small fraction of the energy previously generated, resulting in a continuous net power output.

With a wingspan of 4 metres and a width of 15 metres, the Hawk is an impressive piece of engineering. Currently, it is being trialled with construction companies and is available for rental, providing businesses with access to sustainable energy solutions without requiring long-term infrastructure investment. This rental-first model aligns with the growing demand for flexible, low-carbon energy alternatives in a variety of industries.

Watch the Kitepower Hawk in flight as it demonstrates the potential of airborne wind energy. With 800 successful flight cycles and counting, the Hawk is paving the way for a new generation of sustainable energy solutions.

A Significant Milestone for Kitepower

Beyond our visit, Kitepower recently achieved a remarkable milestone at their test site in Ireland – completing 800 flight cycles in a single period. Over just 79 days, the Hawk has successfully performed 3,400 flight cycles, demonstrating its reliability and commercial potential. This achievement underscores the viability of airborne wind energy as a scalable renewable energy solution.

The growing collaboration between Kitepower, RWE, and Mayo County Council is playing a vital role in advancing the technology. With the potential for offshore deployment, airborne wind energy could open new possibilities for sustainable power generation in remote and maritime environments.

The Role of Blackfish Engineering

Blackfish Engineering is keen to explore how our expertise in offshore renewable engineering and operations can support the airborne wind sector. As airborne wind technology progresses towards offshore deployment, we see exciting opportunities to contribute to its development, ensuring its viability in offshore environments.

A huge thank you to Andrei Luca and the Kitepower operations team – Sam van de Watering, Pádraic Doherty, and Mark Devas – for their hospitality and insights during our visit. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Airborne Wind Europe for facilitating this introduction.