Dutch startup Kitepower has introduced the Hawk system, an innovative solution designed to generate wind energy with kites and charge electric vehicles (EVs) independently of the grid. The Hawk kite system boasts a capacity of 30 kW and efficiently stores the wind-generated energy in a 400 kWh battery, offering a mobile and off-grid renewable energy solution for various applications, including farming, building, and island communities.
The off-grid nature of the Hawk system, coupled with its ease of installation, enables power generation over day and night, providing a reliable and sustainable energy source. Kitepower envisions the technology as a practical and accessible way to bring renewable energy to diverse communities.
In a parallel development, Volkswagen Group Charging and Brandenburg-based company Enerkite are collaborating on a project focused on power generation for mobile charging stations using kites. Describing the technology, the project involves a wing, akin to a flying kite, traversing eight-shaped paths in the wind. The wing pulls ropes from drums at a ground station with significant force, converting the rotation of the drums into electricity through a generator. The goal is to achieve twice the electricity generation of a standard wind turbine, positioning EnerKite’s technology as one of the most efficient among green energy sources.
EnerKite, founded by wind energy experts, aeronautical engineers, and kite enthusiasts, has garnered attention for its pioneering approach. With over 20 employees based around Berlin, the company has secured substantial funding, including 3.5 million euros from the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The collaborative efforts of startups like Kitepower and established players like Volkswagen reflect the ongoing innovation in renewable energy solutions, particularly those leveraging the power of wind to contribute to sustainable transportation.
