DNV verifies Minesto’s power curve as upgraded tidal kite reaches new heights

Swedish marine energy developer Minesto has improved power production performance through upgrades and modifications of its DG100 tidal kite system, as key aspects of test operations and electricity production get third-party verified by DNV.

Minesto recently resumed operations with its marine power plant DG100 in a project in the Faroe Islands, which the company is carrying out together with the electric utility SEV.

Following this spring’s success with electricity production in Vestmannasund, Minesto has upgraded the DG100 system to increase production performance in terms of both maximum and average power.

This has been made possible, among other things, by improved generator configuration and optimised rudder control, Minesto said.

Tides as a natural resource vary in intensity over the day. To utilise all available energy, it is of great importance to optimise the power plant’s electricity production for both high and low flows.

Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto, said: “The modifications we have made have resulted in further improved performance during recent weeks’ electricity production in Vestmannasund.

“Among other things, we have reached new record levels in terms of the highest measured maximum production at 139kW and the highest average power on a lap with 92kW. We generate electricity to grid over full tidal cycles with satisfactory performance, which is very positive from a cost of energy perspective”.

The DG100 system is said to be delivering large amounts of valuable data that is used both for evaluation of electricity production, and for further technology development and to strengthen Minesto’s patent portfolio.

Ongoing electricity production in the Faroe Islands is complemented by testing to ensure the development of the systems being produced for the EDF cooperation in France and the scale-up in Wales.

Furthermore, as part of the ongoing collaboration with DNV a second stage of evaluation has been concluded.

Key aspects of test operations and electricity production with the DG100 power plant, most importantly the production power curve, have now been third-party verified by DNV in accordance with the standard IEC 62600-200:2013 and the principles stated in DNVGL-ST-0164, according to Minesto.

The collaboration with DNV continues so that Minesto’s principle for electricity generation from tidal streams can be accurately compared with other technologies, the company said.

“Work is underway to protect technical solutions linked to the system’s electricity production and performance. Therefore, we have chosen to share performance data from electricity production to partners and potential customers, but not publicly.

“The system delivers satisfactory performance regarding electricity production levels and, which has previously been communicated, entirely in line with simulated performance. The work of scaling up the systems to 1.2 MW is in full swing, with design and technology decisions being made based on the DG100 system’s performance and production results in the past year in Vestmannasund”, Edlund added.

Minesto has been granted public funding totalling approximately €3.5 million through the EU’s EIC Accelerator and the Swedish Energy Agency for the implementation of the Vestmannasund project and the development of the DG100 marine energy converter.