What Are Kite Turbines by Windswept & Interesting Ltd?
Windswept & Interesting Ltd, based in Shetland, is pioneering the future of clean energy with their innovative Kite Turbines. These aren’t your typical wind turbines; they’re flying wind turbines that harness the power of the wind in a lightweight, scalable, and portable way. Imagine wind power that’s not tied down by heavy blades or bulky towers but instead uses kites to capture energy efficiently. The project focuses on next-generation lightweight wind power that’s low cost and boasts the best power-to-weight ratio out there. It’s a brilliant concept — just check out the videos on their site to see these turbines in action.
Main Benefits of Kite Turbines
These Kite Turbines pack a punch with some impressive stats and features:
- Only 2kg airborne weight
- Over 1.5kW output at 10m/s wind speed
- Best power-to-weight ratio, making scalability a breeze
- Patent #GB 2588178 with 25 claims approved
- Safe to operate under 30m altitude, fully compliant with CAA ANO CAP393
- Networked kite design for multiple lines and anchors, avoiding single points of failure
- Virtually no line wear due to no lines running over drums or winches
- Lightweight multiline torque transmission system
Plus, these turbines are mechanically autonomous and easy to launch, operate, and recover for systems under 2kW. The modular networked blades keep workshop needs small even as the system scales up.
Prototype Testing and Collaborations
The project’s prototype testing and modeling, done in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, proved that Kite Turbines can be amazingly efficient. The team completed phase 1 of a 10kW Kite Turbine Automation Project, supported by Shell GameChanger, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and Shetland Islands Council. Although the phase 2 prototype didn’t meet all requirements — mainly due to low static lift kite line tension in low winds — the design reasoning report is publicly available for those curious about the technical challenges. Despite setbacks, the project continues to focus on new R&D tests, aiming to push the boundaries of airborne wind energy.
How Kite Turbines Scale and Operate Safely
Kite Turbines enable scale by using networks of kites, which keep blade sizes consistent with the most probable wind energy. This network design stabilizes kite operations even in turbulent winds and over irregular ground, making it more efficient than single-line kite power designs that require more land per kWh generated. Safety is a big deal here — multiple lines and anchors prevent single point failures, back lines stop breakaways, and the networked system means turbines keep working even if some lines break. Plus, kites stacked in networks share working lines, reducing drag per kite. It’s a smart, safe, and efficient way to harness wind power.
Tensile Rotary Power and Minimal Land Use
The turbines use tensile rotary power, where kites inflate turbine rings that pull lines and transmit torque to the ground. This design means the lifting structure is stable, requiring minimal land use. The open foundation concept allows anyone to build and test Kite Turbines under 1kW, with open-source control software available on GitHub. This low-mass, high-energy design unlocks deployment potential, especially offshore, where space and environmental impact matter a lot.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – providing low-cost, scalable clean power
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – advancing innovative wind energy technology
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – enabling portable and modular energy solutions
- SDG 13: Climate Action – contributing to the fight against climate change with clean tech
- SDG 15: Life on Land – minimizing land use and environmental footprint
Looking Ahead: The Future of Kite Turbines
Windswept & Interesting Ltd is not stopping here. After joining the NZTC TechX accelerator and growing their team, the company is preparing to develop an automated 10kW system to explore scaling and offshore deployment potential. The Kite Powered Car mission shows the practical side of this tech — the turbine fits in the boot of an electric car and has been used to remotely part-charge an e-nv200 van. The next big adventure? A remote mission powered solely by Kite Turbines. With ongoing collaborations across industry and academia, this technology holds huge promise for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
