After completing its test program, Kitemill did a series of successful vertical take-offs and landings. The kite for its 30 kW plant , called Spark, at Lista Fly and Næringspark behaved according to expectations. The completion of the VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) system under flight happened under challenging conditions, with wind speeds over 15 m/s.
Photo by Jo Grini, Kitemill
The Kitemill team preparing for test of vertical take-off and landing at Lista.
-It is motivating with so many VTOL flights and with such a strong technical progress and development. We have several times during the last six months documented that this is something we are capable to do, also in touch wind conditions. It shows that we are on the right track and that the distance towards commercialization is getting shorter, says the general manager at Kitemill, Thomas Hårklau.
The test program documented that the kite its ability to fly, in relation to stability and controllability, aerodynamics, as well as that the kite performed successful its take-off and landing.
BBC-program during summer
A documentary crew from the British television company BBC was present on one of the days where Kitemill was testing its control system and the vertical take-off and landing. BBC has recorded many movies during those tests. The program was broadcasted on BBC2 during the summer 2017. There is huge interest both nationally and internationally about Kitemill its technical development. Because of this, the company is also invited to participate several international meetings, seminars and conferences where the development of new sustainable and renewable energy is the focus area.
Photo by Kitemill
BBC documented VTOL: BBC documentary team are recording some of Kitemill its vertical take-off and landings of its kite with a 7,5 m wingspan.
There is a demand for our Spark-model
After the successful testing and flying of the Spark-model at Lista Fly and Næringspark, external companies came with requests to buy such kites or planes. Those who came with requests aim to use the Spark-kite for other applications then commercial energy production, which Kitemill will.
- It is a little surprising with this interest, but at the same time it confirms our leading position within the kite discipline, says Kitemill its general manager Thomas Hårklau.
Kitemill has the first approved permanent airspace zone for airborne wind energy
Kitemill its efforts towards commercial projects have continued during the Spring of 2017, and an application to secure a permanent location for the companies its customer is ongoing. Kitemill has already the first permanent airspace towards kite turbine applications for airborne wind energy. We work also with another area which requires a tighter agreement with civil aviation. An approval will potentially open multiple areas for kite turbine applications. The ongoing process with the Civil Aviation Authorities is shared with Kitemill its competitors internationally, such that they can use a similar approach towards the Aviation Authorities in other countries.
Flexible, predictable and safe
- Our goal is a set of uniform guideline or standard among the different nations that make the approval process flexible, predictable and safe, says CEO Thomas Hårklau.
Kitemill its competitors have also made progress. The most impressing news came from the company Kite Power Systems, that could close a funding round of 50 million Norwegian crones with three large companies: Shell, E-on and Schlumberger. Kitemill believes it is a positive sign towards the industry that huge multinational companies enter the airborne wind energy industry.
