Kongsberg to supply sonars for Minesto’s tidal kite

Minesto has hired Kongsberg Maritime to supply marine mammal detection sonar system (MMDS) to be used for its Deep Green tidal power plant.

Kongsberg Maritime will provide a complete MMDS system, able to detect and track marine mammals within 60 meters from Minesto’s tidal kite, and 80 meters from the device’s foundation, as sought by Minesto in the invitation for tenders issued by the Welsh goverment’s procurement portal, Sell2Wales.

The tender also stated MMDS system needs to be able to log the detected object types or observation of seal activities in the observation area. Minesto further required the system that logs data automatically, with the ability to sound an alarm.

Kongsberg Maritime, part of a Norway-based international technology corporation Kongsberg Group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions for onshore and offshore industries, was awarded the contract on November 20, 2016, according to Sell2Wales.

Minesto plans to install a 500kW tidal power plant at the Holyhead Deep site off the coast of Anglesey, Wales, in 2017.