The KPS’s technology uses two kites flown on a tether, which is tied to a winch system that generates electricity as it spools out.
At flight speeds of up to 100mph, the tether tension causes the line to spool out from a drum that is connected to an electricity generator.
KPS expects the technology cut the capex of conventional offshore turbines by up to 50%.
The investment commitments from the three firms will be help KPS deploy a 500kW onshore power system at West Freugh in South West Scotland in 2017.
The work is part of the KPS’s plans to deploy an onshore demonstration array of multiple 500kW systems within the next four years.
KPS CFO Paul Jones said: “The backing of these companies will accelerate KPS’s commercial development plans towards deploying lower cost, deep-water offshore wind energy on a global scale.”
The company said that its aims to develop a 3MW onshore system at West Freugh and then deploy a similar sized power system in offshore waters.
STV managing director Geert van de Wouw said: “We have closely followed KPS’s progress over the years and consider that its disruptive wind technology is on the right trajectory towards commercialization.”
Schlumberger has invested in KPS as it considers the technology has the potential to be deployed in varied locations including offshore oil platforms, remote onshore drilling operations and decommissioned offshore wind turbine towers.
E.ON B2C & Innovation senior vice-president Frank Meyer said: “The approach of Kite Power Solutions has the potential to become a game changer for the wind energy market.”
Image: The Kite Power Systems’ technology has potential to cut the capex of conventional offshore turbines by up to 50%. Photo: courtesy of E.ON SE.
