A new joint research project aims to develop a feasible, effective airborne wind power technology.

SkyPower100, made up of partners SkySails Power, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Leibniz Universität Hannover and EWE Offshore Service & Solutions, plans to create a kite-based system able to operate automatically and continuously, something it says has never been acheived before.

It says the first milestone to break is the development and construction of a fully automated “SkyPower100” airborne wind energy system with a nominal capacity of 100kW.

The system will allow autonomous, long-term operation through both day and night, as well as automatically launching, land and stow the kite.

The initiative aims to overcome real-world barriers such as safety regulations, licensing requirements, effects on wildlife and noise limits.

It hopes to eventually establish the use of high-altitude wind energy on an industrial scale and use it to displace significant amounts of carbon dioxide emissions.