Minesto has launched a tender for composite struts that will be used for its Deep Green tidal kite.
Swedish tidal energy developer Minesto is looking to award a contract for the fabrication and delivery of two composite struts, according to the Welsh government’s procurement site Sell2Wales.
Minesto is developing a 500kW tidal power plant in form of a ‘flying’ kite tethered to the sea floor, known as Deep Green, which will be deployed later this year at Holyhead Deep, off North Wales.
The two struts will connect the wing to the top joint, and transfer the majority of the tether load.
The tender is open until March 10, 2017, and the estimated contract award date has been set for March 31, 2017.
The wing for Minesto’s 500kW tidal kite will be supplied by Southampton-based Green Marine, spanning 12 meters between the wing tips, with a wing depth of 3.3 meters.
Minesto chose a tether rope from a Dutch company FibreMax, made of a high-tech fiber called Dyneema.
The Deep Green power plant will be developed in phases, with the installation of the 500kW tidal power plant as part of the first phase, leading to additional deployments in what will eventually become an array with a total capacity of 10MW.
However, Minesto has revealed plans to expand its Deep Green tidal project from 10MW to 80MW.
More recently, Minesto signed an agreement with Stena Line to build a new assembly hall in Holyhead that will be used for Deep Green roll-out.