Airborne Wind

Kitemill has developed and tested an autonomous rigid-wing aircraft that harvests wind energy at approximately 500 meters altitude, where winds are stronger and more consistent than at conventional turbine hub heights. The patented system combines a rigid composite wing with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), enabling fully autonomous operation without launch infrastructure.

The goal is to establish the first dedicated AWE manufacturing facility in Europe, producing two complementary product lines: KM1 (20 kW) for defense and surveillance applications, and KM2 (100 kW) for distributed energy generation in weak-grid and off-grid locations. Both products share core technology — composite structures, avionics, VTOL systems, and ground stations — and are manufactured on a shared production platform. AWE systems use approximately 90% less material per megawatt than conventional wind turbines, requiring no tower, foundation, or crane installation. At mature production the factory is designed for approximately 2,800 units per year, creating around 1,300 jobs and avoiding an estimated 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 over 10 years at a cost efficiency well below €10 per tonne.