Kitepower launches pan-European crowdfunding campaign and continues legacy of Wubbo Ockels
DELFT - With the €4.1 million from the previous rounds, Kitepower has been able to further develop its mobile airborne system into a mature and applicable system. Kitepower is thus continuing the legacy of Wubbo Ockels, who was very closely involved in the creation of Kitepower. As early as 1993, Wubbo had the idea of generating energy through kites. After three successful pilots - including one with defense - and 9 versions of the Kitepower system, the Delft startup is ready for the next phase: bringing the first mobile airborne wind system (AWES) to the market. To this end, they are launching an investment round through crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. The goal to be achieved is €700,000, of which just under €300,000 has been pledged by current investors and preregistrations.
Photo: Kitepower
The wind energy of the future
Kitepower's "mobile windmills" appeal to the imagination. A kind of guy line connects a shipping container to the kite, the kite circles in eights, generating energy. One container will provide electricity to as many as 150 households in the future.
CTO of Kitepower Joep Breuer details the development that has taken place:
'After six years of research at TU delft, we have launched two working prototypes, with which we have now run three successful pilots. The latest version, V9, has a larger kite and idem winch. It also uses the latest technologies, such as advanced micro-computers and lines made of Dyneema (plastic), which is up to seven times stronger than steel. Currently, a kite generates 100kW per year (150 households), but in the coming years we want to expand that to 200, 300 and 500 kW.' said Joep Breuer, Founder & CTO of Kitepower
Majority of wind turbines replaced around 2050
Kitepower aims to become an alternative to wind turbines. 'Over the past two decades, the installed capacity of wind turbines worldwide has grown by 14% per year. The lifetime of these wind turbines is 30-40 years, which means that most of them will have to be replaced around 2050. The goal is to do so with a greener alternative. Our system consists of 90-95% less material than comparable wind turbines, the lifespan is longer and repairs are cheaper. This results in significantly less CO2 emissions per kW gained' said Johannes Peschel, Founder & CEO of Kitepower
Cooperation Ministry of Defense
Kitepower is a powerful player in the world of microgrids; local energy systems that can operate independently. Currently, the market is still dominated by diesel generators, but Kitepower's mobile containers are a good and sustainable alternative. For the past five years, Kitepower has worked closely with the Ministry of Defense to deploy the power units militarily in hard-to-reach and inhospitable areas. 'Installing and running the system takes less than half a day and does not require any specific knowledge. Also, the containers do not require an embedded foundation and can therefore be placed anywhere. That makes our units perfect for use in natural disasters or military missions. The possibilities are endless. says Roland Schmehl, co-founder Kitepower
Why crowdfunding?
To enter the market, Kitepower needs an investment of €700,000. They hope to raise this through crowdfunding. Previous investors - ifund Foundation, ENERGIIQ and Windhandel Beheer - have provided just under €3 million for the Delft startup. Again, these investors account for a hefty amount and together with the crowdfunding campaign's preregistrations, the counter now stands at over €300,000. The crowdfunding campaign will be launched via Crowdcube at the end of July. 'The last few years were mainly about improving the prototypes and further developing a system that can be practically deployed. We now want to bring the concept to the attention of a broader European audience and give them the opportunity to invest in the future of wind energy.' said Joep Breuer, Founder & CTO of Kitepower.
