Testing in the Aerodrome Traffic Zone of the former naval airbase Valkenburg (23 August 2012)
Testing at the former naval airbase Valkenburg (27 March 2012)
Testing at the former naval airbase Valkenburg (27 March 2012)
Joep Breuer Technical Manager
Kitepower B.V. Board Member Unmanned Valley Valkenburg
Foundation Kluyverweg 1 2629 HS Delft The Netherlands j.breuer@kitepower.nl unmannedvalley.com
kite
power
airborne wind energy
Unmanned Valley Valkenburg – Drone and Airborne Wind Energy
Testing in the Netherlands
Anoushka Versleijen1, Joep Breuer2, Lucas van Oostrum3 1Valorisation Centre/RoboValley, Delft University of Technology
2Kitepower B.V. 3Delft Aerial Robotics (DAR)
Unmanned Systems are playing an increasingly impor-tant role in our economy with a significant impact on our society. Airborne Wind Energy is an emerging industry that offers alternatives to conventional wind turbines. At the former naval air base Valkenburg in the Netherlands, we are providing test facilities for Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) and related technology. This open-air lab is uniquely located in an area with adjacent hous-ing, thereby allowing for tests in a realistic urban envi-ronment. We are already performing regular tests with Kitepower systems in Valkenburg and are thus shaping the public perspective on this type of novel systems. Be-cause of its former use as a naval air base, the air space above the field is restricted by an Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ). Inside this air space, future flight tests will be possi-ble without special permit controlled by the local Quality and Safety Manager.
Impact on local residents is measured based on inter-views to assess the public perception of renewable (wind) energy in general and Airborne Wind Energy in particular. The test center itself offers the opportunity to perform fu-ture safety analyses. Further tests will be conducted on a possible interference of AWES and drones.
The Unmanned Valley Valkenburg (UVV) will additionally be capable of featuring tests beyond the visual line of sight above the North Sea. The site itself is located within 30 minutes from drone manufacturers as well as leading research institutes like TU Delft, University of Leiden, and
the European Space Research and Technology Centre. Above all, the test center is accessible to international parties thanks to its close proximity to Schiphol Airport. The municipality of Katwijk holds the chair of the foun-dation and guarantees operation of UVV on the airfield for the next 5 years.
Layout of former airbase Valkenburg (Runway no longer present). References:
[1] Schmehl, R.: Joint Kite Power Demonstration. Valkenburg airfield, 22 May 2012. http://kitepower.eu/newsevents/6-news/95-joint-kite-power-demonstration.html
