Dura Vermeer is testing the Kitepower high-altitude wind system as an alternative energy source for construction sites in remote areas. The aim of the trial is to assess whether the technology can eventually replace diesel generators, which are currently used to meet temporary power demands on construction sites.
Kitepower has developed a lightweight system housed in a standard shipping container, allowing for quick deployment and easy transport. The test is taking place at the Tiel-Waardenburg dike reinforcement project in the Netherlands. The Kitepower system uses a large kite connected to a ground station by a cable. As the kite flies in a figure-eight pattern, it pulls on the cable, which unspools from a drum linked to a generator. The rotating generator converts this movement into electricity. The kite operates at an altitude of 250 to 350 metres.
Image: Jorrit Lousberg
