Airborne wind energy developer Kitemill has been awarded a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to expedite the commercial launch of its innovative wind energy technology. This funding marks a significant milestone for Kitemill and its KM2 system, which was praised by the EIC Jury for its “Technological Advantages” and “Readiness for Market.”
The Norwegian company's 100kW wind energy device operates at high altitudes, where winds are stronger and more stable, leading to lower material use and higher energy availability compared to traditional wind turbines and solar power, according to Kitemill.
The EU has previously supported Kitemill with €3.35 million through the European Innovation Fund's ‘Small Scale Infrastructure Projects' initiative, and an additional €2.4 million in 2019 and 2022. The latest €3.35 million grant will fund the Norse Airborne Wind Energy Project (NAWEP), which includes a 12-unit airborne wind energy array in the Greenflyway Zone between Sweden and Norway.
Kitemill is now eligible for the EU's ‘Blended Finance' programme, which can match up to €8 million of private investment. Earlier this year, Kitemill also secured €2 million from Dutch investment group Expanding Dreams, alongside other investors and a tax relief grant.
Thomas Hårklau, Kitemill's Chief Executive, highlighted the importance of this funding: “Our novel technology has now been accepted and approved by the EU through three separate funding rounds. This latest tranche will help de-risk a critical phase for the KM2, including demonstration of the system's performance in an operational environment. It also serves an important function to boost customer and public trust. But it doesn't stop there. The ‘Blended Finance' programme now provides a golden opportunity to unlock further financial resource to scale operations even more quickly.”
The new funding underscores the EU's commitment to Kitemill as a solution well aligned with the European Green Deal and Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), facilitating the advancement of airborne wind energy as a viable and scalable renewable energy source.
