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Field Demonstrations

AWE Feasibility & Demonstration

Real-world, non-commercial campaigns that demonstrate reliability, logistics, and science value in extreme conditions—informing the broader AWE ecosystem.

Cases include traction-only polar demonstrations and working AWE prototypes with documented field performance—not commercial AWE industry partners.

Polar kite traction demonstration

Traction-only · Non-commercial

These projects use kite traction for propulsion and logistics—not grid-connected AWE power generation. They are featured for their field-demonstration value, not as commercial AWE industry partners.

Inuit WindSled
Case #1

Inuit WindSled (Greenland & Antarctica)

Inuit WindSled is a zero-emission polar exploration platform propelled by traction kites, designed to support science on long traverses over ice sheets.

Expeditions
13 major
Distance
27,000+ km
N. Greenland '25
1,541 km

Track record

  • 13 major expeditions across Greenland and Antarctica
  • 27,000+ km cumulative distance (~16,800 miles)
  • North Greenland Expedition 2025: 1,541 km (~957 miles) in 16 days
  • 37 scientific projects supported across 14 disciplines

Recent science highlights (2025)

  • Collaboration with University of Maine CCI: surface-snow sampling for PFAS and trace elements
  • Field testing of mini-PIONEER (CNR–Institute of Polar Sciences): compact PM sensor for polar operation

Why it matters for AWE

  • Operational proof that kite systems can sustain multi-week missions in extreme environments
  • Provides environmental and meteorological observations useful for resource assessment and model validation
  • Bridges R&D and field use by informing deployment, maintenance, and pilotage requirements
AWEC 2019 talk (TIB)windsled.orggreenland.net/windsledExpeditions timeline
KGM1
Case #2

KGM1

Working prototype · TRL 5–6 · Field-tested

KGM1 is a compact kite-driven wind system (10–20 kW rated) with working prototypes and field tests—making it a natural feasibility candidate alongside traction demonstrations. It also remains featured on the Collaborations & Research page as an active research project.

ghiprog.itSolar Impulse profile

Contribute a non-commercial demonstration

Have a non-commercial AWE demonstration with documented field performance? AWEIA welcomes succinct submissions (1–2 paragraphs, key stats, and one image). Submissions will be reviewed for inclusion; we may embed provided media with attribution.

Submit a demonstration
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