Development and manufacture of automated tethered wings (kites) for wind energy conversion
EnerKíte GmbH
Eberswalde (registered office)New on Amplifa
About EnerKíte
EnerKíte GmbH, based in Eberswalde (Brandenburg), develops, manufactures and markets airborne wind energy systems for generating electricity from high-altitude wind. The concept replaces tower and foundation with a ground-stationed launch and landing mast plus kites (tethered wings), whose traction forces are converted into electrical energy via cable drums, gearboxes and generators in the ground station. The wing consists of an internal structure made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic with a membrane-like skin of aviation-certified, coated polymer fabric; the tether lines are made of braided Kevlar. The wing is manufactured together with partners in a fully automated process; complex mechanics and electronics are deliberately installed in the ground station. The systems operate fully automatically, are remotely monitored and scale stepwise into the megawatt class (EK100, EK500, EK2M). Target markets are self-supply (behind-the-meter), grid-independent island supply, and utility-scale power generation. The EK100-10P prototype is in pilot and test operation; technology readiness for a pre-series ramp-up is to be achieved by 2025.
- Site
- Eberswalde
- Processes
- Development, manufacture and marketing of airborne wind energy systems, Remote monitoring of the systems, Pre-sale of the EK100
- Materials
- Carbon fiber reinforced plastic, Coated polymer fabric (aviation-certified membrane skin), Kevlar (braided tether), Steel and concrete (avoided by concept, towers/foundations), Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), Coated polymer fabric, Braided Kevlar rope
- Certificates
- Remote Monitoring
- Industries
- Renewable Energies / Wind Energy (Airborne Wind Energy), Behind-the-meter / self-supply, Utility-scale power generation, Off-grid and island supply
- 01
Development of the tethered wing and system architecture
- 02
Automated wing production with partner
- 03
Manufacture of the ground station (mast, cable drums, generator, electrics)
- 04
Assembly and commissioning
- 05
Remote monitoring and maintenance
- 06
Marketing and pre-sale (EK100)
Materials and Components
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)
Internal rib structure of the wing with an optimal ratio of weight and strength.
Coated polymer fabric
Aviation-certified membrane skin as the outer cladding of the wing.
Braided Kevlar rope
Tether line that withstands the extreme loads over drums and pulleys across hundreds of cycles.
Locations
Eberswalde
DERegistered office, development and project management
Industries
Additional services
Quality and Reliability
The systems are designed for continuous operation under weather conditions; all systems in the field are centrally monitored by EnerKíte via remote access, and the software algorithms control fully automatic operation including automatic landing in the event of a power grid failure (battery reserve).
| Evidence | Eberswalde |
|---|---|
| Remote Monitoring |
Company History
- 2024
Publication of the asset investment information sheet for financing the pilot and test operation of the EK100-10P prototype; goal: technology readiness for pre-series ramp-up by 2025 (as of 29.05.2024).