Airborne wind energy system to be trialled in Co Mayo

German firm RWE Renewables will construct test site for cutting-edge wind energy technology at Bangor Erris, to be ready for use early next year

Cathal Hennessy, managing director of RWE Renewables’ Irish business: encouraging figures from new technology. Picture: Shane O’Neill

An airborne wind energy system involving an aircraft-shaped device connected by a cable to a ground-based generator is set to be trialled in Mayo by a German company as part of a €12 million research project.

RWE Renewables, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy firms, is to commence construction of a test site for its early-stage airborne wind energy system at Bangor Erris. The test project is expected to be operational by early next year.