Researchers in Ireland are testing the feasibility of using giant kites to generate green electricity. Located in Bangor Erris in Mayo County in western Ireland, the designated airborne wind energy (AWE) test hub serves as the main testing ground for this novel source of renewable energy.
The tests involve flying giant Falcon kites (60m²) that are secured to generators on the ground, and the researchers use a yo‑yo motion to generate clean energy from high‑altitude wind. The project is led by KitePower, a Dutch company founded in 2016 as a Delft University of Technology spin‑off, in partnership with Mayo County Council and RWE.
Funded by the European Union, the AWE site launched its inaugural test flight in 2023 and has conducted more than 90 test flights in 100 flight‑hours at an average of five test flights per week. The first Falcon kites had a 30kW capacity, but researchers have scaled it up to a 100kW system that is currently under development.
Once the kite is released into the air, robust Atlantic winds carry it up to 425 meters, and the attached tether pulls on a ground drum, causing it to spin and generate clean electricity. This electricity is only generated during the reel‑out cycle, and once the kite reaches its terminal tether length, it is depowered and reeled back to the ground.
On average, this process can generate around 30 kilowatts of electricity for every cycle, and the energy is stored in batteries to be used when demand rises. The Falcon kites used at Bangor Erris can reel nearly 2.5 tons of force each cycle, enabling them to generate enough electricity to charge a 336 kWh battery.
This is enough energy to power a construction site, remote outpost, or even an island, and multiple kite units can be used together to scale up energy production and generate enough electricity for larger applications.
Such a system could be extremely helpful in regions that are remote or lack adequate grid infrastructure, especially since KitePower’s system prioritizes mobility and ease of deployment.
With no need for concrete foundations, the system uses 90% less material compared to ordinary wind turbines and can be set up in less than 24 hours. Furthermore, it has very little environmental and visual impact, making it well‑suited for Ireland’s bogland landscapes.
In comparison, solar and wind farms typically require large areas of land, and the pylons needed to transport the energy to end users are often massive and visually disruptive. As Ireland continues to grapple with planning delays and grid bottlenecks that have slowed down the rollout of traditional wind energy, AWE could help it fill critical energy gaps in offshore and remote locations.
With many companies like PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) focusing on providing energy storage solutions, the kites being tested in Ireland could be paired with a nearly endless variety of storage systems.
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