Kitepower
Kitepower develops containerized airborne wind energy systems using tethered kites that harness high-altitude winds for off-grid electricity, serving construction, agriculture, logistics, defense, and remote-site customers via a multi-year rental-first model based in the Netherlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kitepower does
Kitepower is a Delft-based developer and operator of airborne wind energy systems (AWES), founded in 2016 as a spin-off from TU Delft's kite power research group initiated by former astronaut Wubbo Ockels. Its core technology is a ground-generation pumping cycle in which tethered kites fly crosswind figure-8 patterns at altitudes of up to 350 meters, reeling out a Dyneema tether to drive a ground-station generator (130 kW for 80% of each 100-second cycle) and reeling back at 20 kW, producing net positive energy. The commercial product portfolio comprises the Hawk system (a 25 m² mobile rental unit, ~820 kWh/day), the Falcon (a 100 kW system for on-shore deployment), and the Kite-BESS mobile battery storage add-on (400 kWh in 10 hours). The full system fits in a single 20ft container and uses up to 90% less material than a conventional wind turbine.
Kitepower monetizes primarily through multi-year rentals (3-year logistics terms, 70-month construction terms) bundled with airspace and ground permits, remote monitoring, maintenance, and weekly energy reporting, with a rental-first strategy launched in November 2024 and distribution via the Skoon platform. Direct hardware sales remain available for permanent installations, and behind-the-meter energy is priced at approximately €0.25/kWh for logistics customers. Customer segments include construction (Dura Vermeer, Rijkswaterstaat, Besix, Mobilis, TBI Klimaattrein), agriculture (Cheese Farm Mulder), logistics and warehousing, industry and manufacturing, transportation, defense (Dutch Ministry of Defence since 2016), and islands and remote sites (Aruba 2021, La Gomera test site in development). Active operating permits under the EASA SORA framework cover the Netherlands, Ireland, and Germany, with cross-border authorization in Spain in progress.
The company is led by CEO Dr. Pieter Willems (appointed 2025, succeeding founder Johannes Peschel) alongside co-founder Roland Schmehl, COO Walter Hueber, CTO Claudio Vergara, and a 30–50-person organization. Strategic backers include ENERGIIQ, Stichting ifund, and Windhandel Beheer (€3M seed in June 2021), plus a 2022 Crowdcube retail round, and the company is a leading member of Airborne Wind Europe and partner in EU-funded consortia including DEM-AWE (concluded 2025) and MERIDIONAL.
Kitepower firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitepower
- Legal name
- Enevate B.V.
- Website
- https://thekitepower.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kitepower develops containerized airborne wind energy systems using tethered kites that harness high-altitude winds for off-grid electricity, serving construction, agriculture, logistics, defense, and remote-site customers via a multi-year rental-first model based in the Netherlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitepower industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Airborne Wind Energy Systems
- NAICS
- Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611)
- SIC
- Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Advanced Wind Technology R&D (Floating Offshore, Airborne Wind, New Rotor/Blade Concepts) (EUAMAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wind Turbine OEMs & System Integration (Nacelle/Generator/Controls) (EUAMACAC)
Keywords
Where Kitepower is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delft
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Kitepower business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Kite System Rental: Rental-first strategy launched November 2024 to meet rising demand for sustainable energy solutions. Systems rented to construction sites, logistics facilities, agricultural operations, and industrial sites. Includes minimum lease periods (e.g., 3 years for logistics, 70 months for construction), with optional battery rental.
- Energy Production Sales: Direct sale of electricity generated by kite systems to customers behind the meter. Pricing referenced at approximately 25 cent/kWh for logistics applications. Energy production based on historical reference data with 820 kWh/day output for Hawk systems.
- Permitting Services: Kitepower handles acquisition of airspace permits for all clients, ground permits, and coordinates with local air traffic control for NOTAM issuance. Included as part of system rental packages.
- Remote Monitoring & Maintenance: Monthly maintenance by Kitepower, remote monitoring of flights, energy dashboard with weekly reporting included in rental packages. Pilot remote monitoring permit secured for Hawk and Falcon systems.
- Kite System Sales: Direct purchase of kite systems available for long-term rental clients and customers seeking permanent installations. Full system fits in one 20ft sea container (6.06m x 2.44m x 2.60m, 9.5-9.6t).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Multi-year contract | Logistics rental: 820 kWh/day energy production, 25 cent/kWh, 3-year minimum lease |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Construction rental: 70-month minimum term with CCS Cable option and optional battery rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-cycle economics: 100-second cycle produces 130 kW for 80% duration, consumes 20 kW for 20% duration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kitepower product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitepower designs, manufactures and rents containerized, mobile Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) that use tethered kites flying in figure-8 patterns to harvest high-altitude winds and convert mechanical tether energy into electricity via a ground station. The product portfolio includes the smaller Hawk system for rental/temporary deployment, the 100kW Falcon commercial system, and the Kite-BESS mobile battery storage add-on. Full systems fit in a single 20ft sea container for rapid (<1 day) deployment at construction sites, farms, warehouses, islands, and remote locations.
Product overview
Kitepower offers airborne wind energy systems (AWES) that generate electricity using tethered kites to harness high-altitude winds. The product portfolio consists of two core systems: the Hawk (mobile rental system for temporary applications) and the Falcon (100kW commercial system for permanent installations). The Kite-BESS battery storage system integrates with these kite systems to provide reliable off-grid power. Each system includes a ground station, tether, kite control unit, and the kite wing itself, all designed for rapid deployment in remote locations without requiring civil works or foundations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hawk Mobile, containerized airborne wind energy system (AWES) designed for rental and temporary deployment. Designed for construction sites, agriculture, and remote locations requiring off-grid sustainable electricity with rapid deployment.
- Falcon 100 kW airborne wind energy system designed for on-shore commercial deployment and permanent installations. Suitable for construction, agriculture, and industrial applications.
- Kite-BESS Mobile battery energy storage system designed to integrate with Kitepower's AWES. Charges from kite-generated electricity and provides flexible, clean energy supply for remote areas, islands, and temporary sites.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% less material required compared to conventional wind turbines
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Kitepower
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Kitepower technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
Kitepower partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- RWEcoreMajor strategic partnership for airborne wind test facility in Ireland (Bangor Erris, County Mayo). RWE extended access to site enabling permanent on-site team and research into larger-scale and offshore applications. RWE exploring airborne wind to complement their renewables portfolio of offshore/onshore wind, solar, and battery storage. Partnership anniversary celebrated December 2024 with extension announced.
- Dutch Ministry of DefencecoreLong-standing collaboration since 2016 through 'Energy for Military Operations' innovation program. Won €200,000 Innovation Competition award. System tested at Marnewaard with military engineers, deployed at Aruba for Caribbean Engineer 2021. Exploring remote deployment applications for defence operations on islands and in operational environments.
- Airborne Wind EuropecoreKitepower serves as Leading Member of Airborne Wind Europe, the industry association representing and advancing the airborne wind energy sector in Europe.
- BlueWise MarinesupportingDEM-AWE project consortium partner contributing to demonstration and market readiness of airborne wind energy technology.
- Laminak EnergysupportingDEM-AWE project consortium partner, collaborating on airborne wind energy demonstration in Ireland.
- Mayo County CouncilsupportingDEM-AWE project consortium partner providing local support for Ireland test site operations and community engagement.
- Dura VermeercoreConstruction company partner deploying Kitepower at Dike Reinforcement Tiel-Waardenburg project. Dura Vermeer aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. Multiple collaboration projects advancing emission-free construction.
- Greener Power SolutionssupportingBattery storage solutions partner integrated with Kitepower systems at construction sites. Kitepower's systems deployed alongside Greener Power Solutions batteries to supply renewable electricity.
- RijkswaterstaatcoreDutch government agency commissioning A27 Houten-Hooipolder infrastructure project where Kitepower is pilot partner. Provides permits and project framework for airborne wind energy demonstration.
- De Groene WaardensupportingConstruction partner in A27 Houten-Hooipolder airborne wind energy pilot, collaborating with TBI Klimaattrein.
- TBI KlimaattreinsupportingConstruction partner in infrastructure project airborne wind energy pilot at A27.
- MobilissupportingConstruction partner in A27 Houten-Hooipolder pilot project.
- BesixsupportingConstruction partner in A27 Houten-Hooipolder pilot project.
- MouriksupportingConstruction partner in A27 Houten-Hooipolder pilot project.
- van GeldersupportingConstruction partner in A27 Houten-Hooipolder pilot project.
- Beyond the SeasupportingPartnership to develop automated kite-handling system. Strengthened and expanded partnership September 2024.
- eFuelutionsupportingPartnership announced April 2024 to drive green hydrogen development, integrating kite-generated electricity with hydrogen electrolysis.
- University of FreiburgsupportingPartnership announced September 2024 to enhance kite-based wind energy systems through academic collaboration.
- Ember Flash AerospacesupportingStrategic partnership announced June 2025 to enhance wildfire detection capabilities using Kitepower's technology platform.
- CT IngenierossupportingPartner for development of test site on La Gomera, with support from Island Government, announced July 2024.
- Studio RoosegaardesupportingCreative partnership on Windvogel kinetic light installation at Afsluitdijk (2017-2018). Kitepower was development partner for illuminated energy-generating kites creating dynamic light display. Project won international design awards.
- SkoonsupportingEquipment rental platform making Kitepower's Hawk system available for rent, expanding market reach to new customer segments.
- TU DelftcoreOrigin of Kitepower technology from TU Delft's kite power research group under Wubbo Ockels. Maintains close research link. PhD researchers advancing real-time wind sensing and state estimation. Origin of Laddermill concept research.
- MERIDIONAL ConsortiumsupportingEU-funded proposal awarded to develop airborne wind energy solutions. Kitepower participates in consortium meetings and development activities.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Kitepower competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EnerKíte: Berlin-based AWES developer using ground-generation pumping kites to produce electricity. Direct competitor to Kitepower's Falcon/Hawk systems with similar pumping-cycle architecture and target customers in off-grid and remote power applications.
- Windlift: US-based airborne wind energy company developing tethered wings for distributed and defense power generation. Competes with Kitepower in the same AWES category, particularly targeting remote and military applications similar to Kitepower's Dutch MoD work.
- Skysails: Hamburg-based company developing kite-based systems for ship propulsion and offshore wind assistance. Shares the tethered-kite core technology and engineering heritage with Kitepower, although Skysails' primary application is maritime propulsion rather than electricity generation.
Emerging players
- Makani (Alphabet): Former Alphabet X moonshot that developed rigid-wing airborne wind turbines before winding down in 2020. Historical reference peer demonstrating the technology category's challenges and informing Kitepower's ground-generation architecture choice.
- Seabased: Swedish company developing wave energy converters with similar pre-commercial deep-tech profile to Kitepower. Comparably sized alternative-renewables startup exploring utility and island markets.
Broad incumbents
- Aggreko: Global leader in mobile, modular power and temperature control solutions, including temporary generators for construction sites. Competes with Kitepower for the same construction-sector use case but with diesel/gas technology rather than renewable kites.
- Atlas Copco Power and Flow: Major industrial equipment manufacturer offering mobile power generators and energy storage solutions for construction and industrial sites. Competes with Kitepower's construction and logistics applications as a legacy mobile power incumbent.
- Vestas: World's largest wind turbine manufacturer, a broad incumbent in the wind energy industry. While not a direct competitor in airborne technology, Vestas defines the cost benchmark Kitepower must beat for utility-scale applications.
Others
- Wacker Neuson: Construction equipment manufacturer and rental provider offering zero-emission power solutions (battery storage, electric machinery) for urban construction sites. Competes for the same sustainable-construction narrative and customer procurement budgets.
- Greener Power Solutions: Dutch mobile battery storage provider integrated with Kitepower at construction sites including the Dura Vermeer dike project. Technology partner rather than competitor, but addresses overlapping temporary-power customer needs with battery-only solutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kitepower social profiles
Digital presenceKitepower compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Kitepower financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitepower leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Kitepower funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitepower M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitepower
What does Kitepower do?
Kitepower designs, manufactures and rents containerized, mobile Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) that use tethered kites flying in figure-8 patterns to harvest high-altitude winds and convert mechanical tether energy into electricity via a ground station. The product portfolio includes the smaller Hawk system for rental/temporary deployment, the 100kW Falcon commercial system, and the Kite-BESS mobile battery storage add-on. Full systems fit in a single 20ft sea container for rapid (<1 day) deployment at construction sites, farms, warehouses, islands, and remote locations.
Is Kitepower a public or private company?
Kitepower is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kitepower founded?
Kitepower was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kitepower based?
Kitepower is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Kitepower make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Kite System Rental is the primary driver. The others are energy Production Sales, permitting Services, remote Monitoring & Maintenance and kite System Sales.
Who are Kitepower's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EnerKíte, Windlift and Skysails. Emerging players are Makani (Alphabet) and Seabased. Broad incumbents are Aggreko, Atlas Copco Power and Flow and Vestas. Others are Wacker Neuson and Greener Power Solutions.
Does Kitepower have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitepower.
What industry is Kitepower in?
Kitepower's product category is Airborne Wind Energy Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAB, Advanced Wind Technology R&D (Floating Offshore, Airborne Wind, New Rotor/Blade Concepts), with a secondary code of EUAMACAC, Wind Turbine OEMs & System Integration (Nacelle/Generator/Controls). Its NAICS code is 221115 and its SIC code is 3510.