Renewable Energy

Minesto tidal energy kite delivers first electricity to Faroe Islands grid

Feb. 9, 2024

Minesto's utility-scale tidal powerplant Dragon 12 has been successfully commissioned, and it delivered its first electricity to the national grid in the Faroe Islands.

Dragon 12 is a 10-times scale-up from the existing 100-kW Dragon 4 (pictured).

Minesto says the ability to operate at low-flow streams makes its kites the only technology that is believed to be cost-efficient in both tidal streams and ocean currents.

Offshore staff

SWEDEN — Ocean energy developer Minesto's utility-scale tidal powerplant Dragon 12 (rated at 1.2 MW) has been successfully commissioned, and it delivered its first electricity to the national grid in the Faroe Islands on Feb. 9.

The Dragon 12 is Minesto’s first tidal energy kite in megawatt-scale. It has generated electricity at satisfactory levels in its first phase of operation. The 12-m-wide and 28-ton heavy subsea kite, anchored with a tether to the seabed, is steered in an 8-shaped flight trajectory powered by the tidal flow.

Minesto says the Dragon 12 kite delivers competitive performance and cost-levels for build-out of large-scale commercial subsea parks of tidal powerplants.