Airborne Wind Energy is now one of the technologies included in Norway's energy strategy. The strategy support Norwegian participation in IEA Wind Task 48 – Airborne Wind Energy, and support funds for R&D and demonstration, commercialization and scale-up.
Energi21's vision is to further develop Europe's best energy system. Energi21's mandate is, among other things, to provide advice to the authorities on the organisation of public allocations to research, both thematically and financially. The recipient of the strategy is the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The strategy is based on an extensive knowledge base. Nearly 700 actors from business, research and innovation environments and academia have contributed input and participated actively in the strategy development. Energi21's "Strategy 2022" was adopted in the summer of 2022. Strategy 2022 is the national strategy for research, development, demonstration,and commercialization of new climate-friendly energy technology.
Kitemill was asked to contribute
- We have participated in input meetings and delivered our message in the form of a memo to the board of Strategi21. We are pleased that our input has been heard in the final strategy, which will set guidelines for future technological solutions, says Kitemill's CEO, Thomas Hårklau.
State capital together with privatecapital
Energi 2022 says that state financing instruments can contribute as risk relief for private investments in projects within the Energi21 strategy's focus areas. Energi21 was established by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in 2008 and aims to contribute to increased value creation and safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable utilization of energy resources. This strategy is the fifth in the series. It points out that a recent report from the UN climate panel has reminded us that the transition is not going fast enough to reach the 1.5°C target. The transition must be accelerated further.
Need for increased self-sufficiency
Chairman of Energi21, Bjørn N. Holsen writes in the foreword to Strategy 2022, among other things; -We also see that global supply chains, includingthose in the energy segment, are vulnerable, and that thereis a connection between geopolitical unrest and the ongoingenergy crisis in Europe. Overall, this leads to an increasedneed for regional supply chains and a desire to cut Russia gas dependency. -Norway should utilise this restructuring need to create new green industries, both with a view to producing services and technology to cover the country’s own needs, but, evenmore importantly, to position itself as a competitive supplier of energy solutions for Europe and the rest of the world.
- Here Kitemill can play an important role in local energy production, with significant potential over large parts of the globe, says Thomas Hårklau.
Strategy 2022 states that airborne wind energy is an energy production technology under development that will utilize wind resources at heights between 200 and 1,500 metres. At these altitudes, the wind resources are stronger and more constant which enables a higher capacity factor. This means that in the long term the technology can contribute to a safe and sustainable energy supply.
The strategy states that high-altitude wind concepts are in an early commercialization phase. It is pointed out that the location of a single airborne wind energy farm is flexible and requires relatively little area and materials. Consequently, it is suitable for distributed renewable power production onshore or offshore, but it is now also being developed for configurations in larger power plants.
The national energy strategy states that Kitemill is the only Norwegian supplier of airborne wind energy technology and is a leading player in the development of airborne wind energy sector internationally. Kitemill has in several rounds been awarded support from the EU's research programmes, for project costs over NOK 100 million from, among others; Horizon 2020 and the EU's Innovation Fund. Norwegian university environments are also active in concept and component development.
The strategy states that key research and innovation needs include:
Control systems and full-automation of launch and landing of power kites,
Lightweight and durable materials,
Increased reliability, including technicaloperational reliability and regulatory aspects.
Supportfor Airborne Wind Europe
The strategy support Norwegian participation in IEA Wind Task 48 – Airborne Wind Energy, and funds for R&D and demonstration, commercialization and scale-up.
- This is good news for the climate and the development of our technology. The fact that Energi21 contribute to bring AWE forward is positive. They also write that in recent years an international environment has emerged with the establishment of industry organizations and initiatives for airborne wind energy. The association Airborne Wind Europe was established in 2018 with participation from Kitemill.
Energi21 – Strategi 22 (Norwegian)
