Kite-Powered Electricity: A Game Changer in Wind Energy?

A project in Co Mayo, Ireland, is generating renewable electricity using kites, touted as a potential game-changer in wind energy. Kitepower, a spin-off from Delft University, employs 60 sq/m kites flown up to 425m, generating electricity through a yo-yo-like system. The kites, controlled by kitesurfing professionals and a GPS system, produce up to 30 kW per hour, stored in a battery. The entire system is mobile and easily deployable, operating even in cloudy, rainy, or nighttime conditions. This technology aims to provide clean energy to remote areas and eventually integrate with the electricity grid.