High-Altitude Kite Power System KiteGen Completes 30 Continuous Days of Operation in Italy: Sustained Wind Energy at 1,500 Meters
Italy's KiteGen completes its first 30-day continuous commercial run of its high-altitude kite power system in Sardinia, harnessing stable high-altitude winds at 1,500 meters with a capacity factor of 92%.
High-Altitude Kite Power System KiteGen Completes 30 Continuous Days of Operation in Italy: Sustained Wind Energy at 1,500 Meters
Italy's KiteGen announced on July 30 that its high-altitude kite power system completed its first 30-day continuous commercial run in Sardinia. The system uses an automatically controlled kite with a 500-square-meter wing area flying at 1,500 meters altitude, driving a ground-based generator through tethered cables. The kite flies in a figure-eight trajectory, continuously pulling the cables under wind force to generate electricity.
A single KiteGen unit has an installed capacity of 3 megawatts, and during the 30-day operation period achieved a capacity factor of 92% — meaning it was operating at full power 92% of the time. The kite precisely controls its flight trajectory through GPS and IMU sensors, automatically adjusting flight altitude and angle as wind conditions change.
KiteGen estimates its electricity generation cost at 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it one of the cheapest renewable energy sources available. However, the potential impact of kites on aviation safety remains the main obstacle to regulatory approval.
Disclaimer
Content is AI-generated. Do not use it as a basis for real decisions. Do not cite it as factual reporting.