Minesto has revealed that the results of quarter-scale sea trials of its Deep Green tidal technology correspond to full power production for a full-scale power plant.
Quarter-scale sea tests of Minesto’s technology for producing electricity from low-velocity ocean and tidal currents, ongoing since 2013 at Minesto’s test facility in Northern Ireland, have resulted in surpassing the previously noted maximum levels of electricity generation, the company informed.
Heije Westberg , CTO at Minesto, said: “Following technical development progress in design and control system, the kite is flying with higher trajectory precision than before – which means improved electricity production performance.”
The quarter-scale model generated an output of more than 3kW at a tidal current velocity of 0.8 m/s, which corresponds to full power production for a full-scale 0.5MW power plant at 1.75 m/s current velocity, according to Minesto.
Martin Edlund , CEO of Minesto, said: “This means that our quarter-scale tests indicate adequate power generation performance for the corresponding design of the power plant at full scale. It reduces technical risks in our full-scale project and further strengthens our belief in the commercial viability of the Deep Green technology.”
Westberg added Minesto is moving forward to further increase the performance of the technology, with the testing of an improved wing design set to begin in the weeks to come.