Minesto has signed the collaboration agreement with the Research Center for Ocean Energy and Strategies (RCOES) at National Taiwan Ocean University to explore the potential of using its Deep Green tidal technology in Taiwan.
Minesto and RCOES have agreed to work together on the installation of a quarter scale Deep Green power plant at an existing RCOES test site in Keelung to perform long-term testing of Minesto’s technology in Taiwanese tidal streams.
As a second phase of the collaboration, the potential sites for commercial-scale installation of Deep Green technology will be developed, according to Minesto, with some potential sites already identified.
At these sites, Deep Green would be exploiting low-velocity, continuous ocean currents, but Minesto states that Deep Green technology in Taiwan can be deployed both in tidal streams and continuous ocean currents.
Martin Edlund , CEO of Minesto, said: “This is an important milestone in the commercialization of the Deep Green technology and a breakthrough in a market with substantial potential to Minesto. For successful local commercialization of a marine energy technology such as ours, it is very important that local research expertise get the opportunity to research and verify the technology.”
RCOES will use the collaboration with Minesto to develop expertise in ocean energy test site operations, including infrastructure build-up, while taking the opportunity to conduct applied research on a novelty marine energy technology.
Jiahn -Horng Chen , Deputy Director of RCOES, said: “We see great opportunities for RCOES and the development of ocean energy in Taiwan in this collaboration with Minesto . To us, it is of highest interest to develop methods and best practices on renewable electricity production from the rich ocean resource which surrounds Taiwan. This collaboration has a tremendous opportunity to, in the long-term, be a significant part in a sustainable transition of the energy system in Taiwan.”
According to Minesto, studies have shown that the combined local potential of tidal and ocean currents could satisfy as much as 50% of Taiwan’s future electricity demand.