KiteGen Venture has won backing from Saipem to help develop a high-altitude energy kite that uses airborne wind to produce up to 3 MW through a ground-based generator. Saipem says it wants to make the system, patented by KiteGen, more efficient. It says high altitude wind is more reliable, manufacturing costs are comparatively low and the generators can be closer together than traditional wind turbines. The up to 3MW firms are developing potential offshore uses of the system.
KiteGen Venture has won backing from Saipem to help develop a high-altitude energy kite that uses airborne wind to produce up to 3 MW through a ground-based generator. Saipem says it wants to make the system, patented by KiteGen, more efficient. It says high altitude wind is more reliable, manufacturing costs are comparatively low and the generators can be closer together than traditional wind turbines. The two firms are developing potential offshore uses of the system.