VIDEO: Marine energy kite completes initial commissioning trials

Minesto's marine energy converter DG500 during the commissioning program in Holyhead Deep, Wales

AUGUST 14, 2018 — One way to harness ocean energy? Go fly a kite. If you are standing on a beach, flying a kite in the wind, you will feel lift force from the kite in the rope as the wind tries to carry the kite away. Move the kite sideways, it will fly fast – way faster than the wind is blowing.
Attach a turbine to the kite and put it in the ocean, where a water current flows instead of the wind blowing, and you have the concept of Minesto AB’s patented ocean energy power plant, Deep Green.

Minesto has now completed the initial commissioning sea trials of the Deep Green subsea kite technology called Deep Green off the coast of Holyhead, North West Wales. Through the initial trials, a range of functionalities such as the kite control system, launch and recovery systems, connections and communications have been tested and verified in various sea states.

The results of the initial commissioning tests have been analyzed and the main conclusion is that Minesto’s DG500 marine energy kite, which produces renewable energy from tidal streams and ocean currents, is ready to commence “flying” full subsea trajectories.

Commenting on the progress, Minesto’s Chief Operating Officer David Collier said: “This is a very significant step towards our ultimate goal of proving the complete DG500 system. I am very proud of the team as this accomplishment has been made possible only by the hard work and endeavor of everyone that has been involved in the design and development of the Deep Green technology over a number of years. The commissioning efforts have been performed in a safe and robust manner, which is especially important considering the many innovations involved in this first-of-its-kind project”.

Minesto will next continue the commissioning program of the DG500 device to achieve the milestones of flying full subsea trajectories and verifying the power take-off system and electricity generation.