KiNRG: In a world racing to decarbonize while grappling with surging electricity demand, KiNRG has emerged as one of the most ambitious and unconventional players in the renewable energy landscape. Founded by Ron Pickett, Chairman and CEO, KiNRG is not simply advancing another solar or wind solution- it is reimagining how electricity can be generated continuously, cleanly, and at scale.
The origins of KiNRG trace back to a visionary scientific pursuit at Israel’s Technion, where researchers sought to develop an energy system untethered from fossil fuels. Inspired by this decades-old ambition and the accelerating global push for sustainable power, Pickett launched KiNRG with a singular mission: to deliver a breakthrough renewable energy technology capable of meeting modern industrial-scale demand without the intermittency that plagues conventional renewables.
The Downdraft Energy Tower: A Hybrid Breakthrough
At the core of KiNRG’s innovation is the Downdraft Energy Tower (DET), the only hybrid solar-wind technology currently available on the market. Unlike traditional renewables that depend on fluctuating sunlight or wind conditions, the DET is engineered for continuous operation- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year- in suitable climates.
The system works by using sun-heated air and controlled water evaporation at the top of a tall, hollow tower. This process creates a powerful downdraft of cooled air that flows downward through turbines, generating electricity as it descends. The “fuel” is remarkably simple: air and water. The result is a steady, predictable supply of carbon-free electricity that fundamentally challenges the intermittency limitations of solar panels and wind turbines.
This capability positions KiNRG as a solution provider for applications that demand constant, high-load power—an increasingly critical requirement in today’s digital and industrial economy.
A Global Partnership-Driven Business Model
KiNRG is more than a technology developer; it is an energy solutions company built on collaboration. Its business model centers on partnering with utilities, governments, and independent power producers around the world to design, finance, build, and operate Downdraft Energy Towers.
Rather than bearing all project costs itself, KiNRG leverages local investment and regional expertise while contributing its proprietary technology, engineering know-how, and operational support. In return, the company earns development and licensing fees, royalties from power sales, and, in some cases, equity participation. This scalable, partnership-driven approach enables KiNRG to expand globally while ensuring projects are economically and locally grounded.
Supporting this strategy is a growing intellectual property portfolio. KiNRG has already been issued six patents, with additional filings underway in countries where the DET operates most efficiently. These patents strengthen the company’s competitive edge and protect the unique engineering innovations that make the technology viable at scale.
Strategic Positioning and Market Timing
Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with additional offices in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Annapolis, Maryland, KiNRG is strategically positioned to serve both U.S. and international markets. The timing could hardly be better. Governments worldwide are accelerating decarbonization efforts, offering incentives and policy support to fast-track clean energy deployment. At the same time, investors and corporations—from Warren Buffett to Google—are channeling capital into renewable infrastructure.
KiNRG’s technology fits squarely into this moment. Its towers are designed to be constructed using standard materials and conventional building techniques, keeping costs manageable and deployment practical. Once operational, they produce 100% carbon-free electricity suitable for some of the most energy-intensive uses in the modern economy.
Powering AI, Industry, and Green Hydrogen
One of KiNRG’s most compelling advantages is its ability to provide reliable baseload power. Unlike solar and wind, which require storage or backup systems, the DET can dedicate continuous output directly to high-demand users.
In Yuma, Arizona—chosen for being one of the hottest and driest locations in the United States—KiNRG planned a flagship project to model the technology at peak performance. While currently on hold pending final outcomes related to IRA tax credits, the project remains viable and illustrates the tower’s potential. In this case, a single tower could support an AI data center requiring 200–400 megawatts of “behind-the-meter” power.
The implications extend far beyond data centers. In eco-industrial parks, KiNRG towers could power steel and aluminum manufacturing, heavy industry, and large-scale green hydrogen production. For hydrogen in particular, the DET represents a step-change: up to 70% of its output can be used to run electrolyzers continuously, compared to roughly 20% utilization from solar farms operating limited hours per day. Lowering the cost of green hydrogen is essential to its widespread adoption—and KiNRG believes it holds the key.
Measurable Environmental Impact
The environmental benefits are substantial. Each KiNRG tower is expected to save approximately 3 million tons of CO₂ annually when compared to fossil-fuel-based generation producing the same number of megawatt-hours. With a projected lifespan of 50 to 100 years—far exceeding the 20–25-year life of typical solar installations—the long-term sustainability and cost advantages become even more pronounced.
The Visionary Behind KiNRG
Ron Pickett’s career reflects a lifelong pattern of pioneering innovation across industries. From serving as a Youth Advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, to leading major real estate developments, to founding breakthrough companies in telemedicine, waste recycling, and broadband-over-powerlines technology, Pickett has consistently operated at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and long-term impact.
He founded KiNRG in July 2010 as its sole initial investor and has remained Chairman and CEO since 2011. For Pickett, KiNRG represents the culmination of decades of experience—and a defining contribution to the global energy transition.
As the world searches for reliable, scalable, and truly clean power, KiNRG stands at the forefront of a new energy paradigm. With its Downdraft Energy Tower and a vision firmly fixed on the future, the company is not just generating electricity; it is redefining what renewable energy can be.
