Minesto has awarded a contract to Orkney-based marine services provider Leask Marine for the installation of a drilled foundation anchor for the first Dragon 12 tidal energy kite system in Faroe Islands.
The scope of work for Leask Marine includes detailed design, supply and installation of a drilled and grouted tubular foundation anchor for Minesto’s Dragon 12 tidal energy device, to be installed in Vestmannasund.
The move marks a shift from using gravity-based foundations to a drilled anchor solution, according to Swedish marine energy company Minesto .
The shift is said to bring substantially lower carbon footprint and also reduces installation costs, making Minesto well positioned for tidal energy array buildouts .
Martin Edlund , CEO of Minesto, said: “This is a significant step in scale-up of our tidal energy power plants. We now have a solution suitable for array buildout.”
A tubular foundation anchor utilises considerably less material than a gravity-based structure, so the solution significantly reduces the total CO2 life-cycle emissions. With a small physical footprint and rapid, low-noise installation, the tubular anchor system’s environmental impact is low.
“Taking the step to an anchored solution, away from gravity-based foundations, is a key development for array build outs. This will result in significant cost reductions in logistics, materials, installation and decommissioning,” added David Collier , COO at Minesto.
Minesto has a long history of successful collaboration with Leask Marine in a range of foundation and installation projects. Leask’s anchor technology is well-proven and is now applied in tidal energy, as Minesto’s kite systems are to be anchored with this innovative solution.