Kitmill Introduces the KM2 – AWE system

Kitemill, Norway is a leading player in the field of developing and commercializing Airborne Wind Energy systems. The company’s business activities include designing, selling, and installing AWE systems as well as some project development and maintenance activities.

Kitmill unveiled designs for its first commercial scale KM2 system capable of taking AWE to utility-scale. The ground-breaking technology is set to feature in the €7.5m Norse Airborne Wind Energy Project (NAWEP), backed by the EU Innovation Fund, with a total of 12 KM2 units due for installation. The KM2 system, a 100-kW average cycle power airborne wind energy system that is set to become the company’s first commercial model. Kitemill has been working on the KM2 system for almost two years, and the company is eager to begin prototype production soon, says the company source.

‍Fast track deployment strategy

According to Kitmill, not only will the KM2 system, potentially transform the weak grid market segment with its high flexibility and availability further down the road, but it will first and fore most be used to enable utility-scale use of AWE technology. Kitemill believes there will be opportunities to deploy this system in fast-track pipeline projects as the already awarded European Union Innovation Fund project, Norse Airborne Wind Energy Project where 12x KM2 units is planned installed.

Properties for a significant impact

This first commercial version will show how larger scale, more widely implemented AWE systems will provide several of the value propositions. The KM2 system will show:

Higher capacity factors than solar and other intermittent sources

A considerably less material usage than conventional wind turbines regardless of scale

Efficient logistics provide flexibility which allows the system to be relocated

Less required infrastructure on site which reduces impact on the nature