With the pilot project KiteFlug Module I, the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg (MWK) does the first step towards the application of a disruptive technology for the production of green hydrogen and climate-neutral e-fuels. Various institutes at the University of Stuttgart are working on the scientific foundations of this visionary project. The first step in the project is the establishment of an experimental platform, enabled by the MWK in close cooperation with the University of Stuttgart and OCEANERGY AG. The second phase involves research about the scaling of the approach, the selection of materials, aerodynamics and control of such a system and the development of an AI system for automated kite flying. The goal is to develop and operate the "KITE GAS/FUEL SHIP" in further projects. This vessel uses the power of permanent high-altitude winds on the ocean as a clean and environmentally friendly source of energy to generate carbon-neutral e-fuels. The technology comes from OCEANERGY AG Stuttgart, who are also leading the realisation of the overall project: A ship that navigates through the windy areas in the ocean, moved by a large kite parachute flying at heights of up to 700 meters, in order to produce electrical energy for synthetic fuel production (PtX) via generators and turbines in the water, among other things. With the KITE GAS/FUEL SHIP, climate-neutral e-fuels such as hydrogen or synthetic fuels could be produced at competitive prices on the world market and in large quantities in about ten years’ time. OCEANERGY expects costs of clearly under 1 euro per litre or 0.1 euro per kWh and or 2 to 3 euros per kg for green hydrogen, with the big advantage that production takes place where nobody is bothered.
