At Kitemill, our mission to bring airborne wind energy (AWE) to commercial maturity is not only grounded in engineering innovation—it’s deeply rooted in proactive policy engagement. From submitting formal input to parliamentary processes to welcoming national decision-makers to our test site at Lista, we are actively shaping the frameworks that will enable the renewable technologies of the future.
In recent period, Kitemill has contributed detailed proposals to both the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act consultation and the Norwegian Parliament’s White Paper on Drones and New Air Mobility (Meld. St. 15, 2024–2025). Our message is clear: airborne wind must be recognized as a strategic, scalable and sustainable form of energy—one that requires regulatory support tailored to its unique use of airspace and mobility.
In our hearing input, we called for:
A highlight of this engagement came on May 3rd, when Kitemill welcomed a high-level political delegation to our future demonstrator site at Lista:
During the visit, the delegation received a presentation from CEO Thomas Hårklau, a tour of our workshop, and an in-depth briefing on our EU-supported NAWEP project—a 1.2 MW demonstrator aiming for three years of continuous operation from 2027 to 2030.
“It’s very encouraging that members of Parliament take the time to visit us and engage directly with our input,” said Hårklau.
“Having the Chair of the Transport Committee here is especially important, given that these hearings fall under the Ministry of Transport. I left the meeting feeling more optimistic—they showed a strong understanding of both energy policy and unmanned aviation.”
The Lista demonstrator will consist of 15 kite-based systems, each delivering 100 kW, making it one of the first multi-system AWE pilot sites in the world. It is supported by the EU Innovation Fund and coordinated under the NAWEP (Norwegian Airborne Wind Energy Project) with extensive environmental and operational assessments involving partners like TU Delft and NNI.
Kitemill is not just prototyping clean tech—we’re helping define the rules and responsibilities of next-generation energy solutions.
From Stortinget to Brussels, and from Lista to European energy roundtables, Kitemill is leading the charge for AWE across sectors. We’re not just flying kites—we’re building a framework for the future of energy.
