The sky's the limit: Power station driven by KITES will be set up in Scotland to cut the cost of energy

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While wind has been used as an energy source for years, most turbines require huge machinery and high costs.

But one firm is finding a new way to use wind as an energy source, which they claim could halve the cost of offshore wind energy. 

The renewable energy firm plans to create one of the world's first kite power stations in Scotland. 

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One firm is finding a new way to use wind as an energy source, which they claim could halve the cost of offshore wind energy. The renewable energy firm plans to create one of the world's first kite power stations in Scotland

Kite Power Solutions is building its power station at the Ministry of Defence's West Freugh range in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, and will be in operation by March 2017.

The firm claims kite power will halve the cost of offshore wind energy, dispensing with the need for government subsidies.

The station produces power via a pair of kites attached to two spool drums connected to electricity turbines.

As one kite rises up to a height of 2,461 feet (750 metres), it pulls a tether and then flies in a figure of eight pattern, turning the turbine. 

The kites work in tandem so while one falls, the other rises, generating electricity continuously.

A full-sized kite will be 131 feet (40 metres) wide and able to generate two to three megawatts of electricity, comparable to a 328-foot  (100m) conventional turbine.

Planning permission has been granted for the 500 kilowatt demonstration system at West Freugh, and the company believes it will be an important stepping stone in developing commercial systems within the next few years.

David Ainsworth, the firm's business development director, said: 'This is the third evolution of our technology and the next step after the 500kW will be to develop a 3MW system at West Freugh, which is planned for 2019.

Planning permission has been granted for the 500 kilowatt demonstration system at West Freugh, and the company believes it will be an important stepping stone in developing commercial systems within the next few years 

The station produces power via a pair of kites attached to two spool drums connected to electricity turbines. The kites work in tandem so while one falls, the other rises, generating electricity continuously

'We believe that we will be able to halve the cost of offshore wind.

'We can install offshore wind installations at a much lower price and can produce offshore wind without the need for government subsidies.'

He said the installed and on-stream cost for kite power stations is around five euro cents (four pence in the UK and six cents in the US) per kilowatt hour, compared to about 10 cents (nine pence in the UK and 11 cents in the US) for traditional offshore wind turbines.

The firm has already tested the technology as part of a much smaller project in Essex and now plans to move its headquarters to Glasgow and double in size in preparation for the West Freugh scheme.

As one kite rises up to a height of 750 metres, it pulls a tether and then flies in a figure of eight pattern, turning the turbine

The new project will be the first of its scale in the UK and the second in the world, following a research project in Italy.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks welcomed the development.

He said: 'When it comes to renewables, Scotland's ambitions clearly know no bounds.

'Kite power technology offers the prospect of an exciting new way to harness the power of the wind, particularly in places where it might be impractical to erect a wind turbine.

'Alongside energy reduction schemes and other renewables, this technology could contribute to helping us to end our addiction to climate-changing fossil fuels.'