Technology

In the WindLift Kite Engine, a kite is harnessed to a reciprocating pump or generator and efficiently harvests the wind for a wide variety of power or pumping needs.

The current prototyping platform directly measures the power output from the kite engine via two 8- kW generators through a variable load bank. This summer the company will validate the performance of its kite engines at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and compare this performance with theoretical models. This data will provide a target for the tuning of the kite engine, identifying weaknesses in the current design, and guiding the development of future designs. The company will build a world class team of kite energy engineers, set-up operation in Durham and Salvo, North Carolina. This team will bring 5, 10, and 20 kW kite engines to market in 18-24 months. We are very excited at the prospects of kite energy capabilities!