Minesto verifies performance of Dragon 12 tidal plant
Elizabeth Ingram
Posted on: 27 February 2024
All core operating functions| such as starting| turning with the tidal flow and electricity generation| have been verified in its first phase of operation.
Swedish tidal energy developer Minesto said that two weeks of testing have verified the Dragon 12 functionality and power production performance are satisfactory and as projected.
All core operating functions, such as starting, turning with the tidal flow and electricity generation, have been verified in its first phase of operation.
Given the stable system behavior, Minesto concludes the technology risks of scale-up have been significantly reduced.
Since installation, the 1.2MW Dragon 12 tidal powerplant has delivered as expected during its first phase of operation at its grid-connected mono-pile seabed foundation in Vestmannasund, Faroe Islands, Denmark.
The Dragon 12 has been generating and flying in its 8-shaped trajectory with an outer dimension of 70 meters at an average flight depth of 50 meters, all as stipulated by the control system. The powerplant is monitored and controlled remotely by Minesto and interfaced with the grid management system at electric utility SEV’s main control room in Torshavn.
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“It is a moment of truth to take part in the first flight, and consequently electricity production, of any new Minesto kite. The kite dives and then shoots itself onto the trajectory driven by the lifting force from the tidal current – while synchronising the induction generator with the grid. There are quite a few parameters that must be set correctly for this to work properly. It was very satisfying seeing the status in the SCADA-interface shifting to ‘Production’ and thereby moving Minesto into the mega-watt league,” comments Bernt Erik Westre, chief technology officer of Minesto.
In February 2020, Minesto signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SEV, advancing the parties’ collaboration to integrate tidal energy in the Faroe Islands’ electricity mix.
The PPA comprises the planned installations of two 100kW systems of Minesto’s subsea kite technology and an additional 2MW capacity allocated for installations of utility-scale tidal energy systems.
Originally published on hydroreview.com
