Swedish engineering firm Minesto is on track to help power the isolated Faroe Islands with a tidal power scheme which uses high-tech turbines.
Known as ‘Sea Dragons’ or ‘tidal kites’, the two experimental kites move underwater in a figure-of-eight pattern, absorbing energy from the running tide. The kites, with 16 ft (five-metre) wingspans, are tethered to the fjord seabed by a 40-metre metal cable.
According to the BBC, their movement is generated by the lift exerted by the water flow, just as a plane flies by the force of air flowing over its wings.
An onboard computer helps the kites stay in the path of prevailing currents to generate a maximum amount of power which is transferred via the tethering cables to an onshore control station.
The two protype models have been working for about a year, generating enough electricity for four or five homes. But, Martin Edlund, Minesto CEO, says that full size Sea Dragons will enter Faroe waters next year.
“The new kites will have a 12-metre wingspan and can each generate 1.2 megawatts of power,” he told the BBC. “We believe an array of these Dragon-class kites will produce enough electricity to power half of the households in the Faroes.”
Along with Minesto, Kitecraft is working on a very similar project but one that actually flies in the air.
Photos: Minesto
