The company provides a high‑altitude wind power platform that employs a rotary‑wing architecture with adaptive wing shaping to capture stronger, steadier winds above 250 m. Integrated direct‑drive generators and a tethered support system deliver higher capacity factors and lower levelized cost of electricity for utility‑scale on‑shore and offshore projects.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional wind turbines are limited to low‑altitude airflow, capturing only about 2 % of the available wind energy. Near‑ground winds are less steady and have lower velocities, which reduces capacity factors and restricts viable installation sites both on‑shore and offshore.
Solution
The Rotokite and Hely‑Mill system replaces fixed‑blade rotors with an adaptive, rotary‑wing architecture that operates at higher altitudes (≈250 m and above). By rotating an aerodynamically optimized wing profile around its longitudinal axis—similar to helicopter blades—the platform exploits steadier, higher‑velocity winds where power density scales with the cube of wind speed. Integrated generators convert the aerodynamic lift directly into electricity, while a tethered support structure enables deployment in diverse terrains, including offshore sites. The result is a higher capacity factor, expanded siting flexibility, and lower levelized cost of electricity compared with traditional wind farms.
Target Audience
Primary customers are utility‑scale renewable energy developers and grid operators seeking higher‑efficiency wind solutions for on‑shore and offshore projects, as well as infrastructure investors focused on low‑cost, high‑capacity factor generation assets.
Features
- Adaptive wing profile with on‑the‑fly shape control to maximize lift‑to‑drag across a wide wind‑speed envelope.
- Helicopter‑style rotary axis that continuously aligns the wing to prevailing wind direction, eliminating the need for yaw mechanisms.
- High‑altitude operation (≥250 m) to capture wind speeds that are up to three times greater than surface winds, increasing power output by the cube of velocity.
- Modular tether and ground‑station interface that supports both on‑shore and offshore installations with rapid deployment cycles.
- Integrated direct‑drive generator within the wing structure, reducing drivetrain losses and maintenance requirements.
- Real‑time telemetry and cloud‑based performance analytics for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and grid‑integration forecasting.
- Scalable design allowing multiple units to be clustered for utility‑scale power plants while maintaining a low footprint.