We’ve heard of offshore wind power, and even wave power, but are new to the concept of tidal power. Tidal power uses the predictable forces of tidal streams and ocean currents to capture energy to be turned into clean electricity.
Minesto is capturing significant amounts of energy with their deployable underwater ‘kites’ that look like oversized drones. Tethered to the seabed, they drag through the current, all the while capturing that water’s energy, and sending it back onshore with cables.
Their latest kite is called Dragon 12, and has a 39-foot wingspan, and is rated to generate 1.2 MW (megawatts) of electricity, able to power thousands of homes.
The Minesto team posing for in front of the Dragon 12 kite.
The benefits of a system like Minesto’s include their relative small size, at least compared to offshore wind turbines, which are massive and expensive. That means they’ll be able to be be deployed in more constrained places, like archipelagos and slim channels.
Minesto claims their systems can be tethered deep enough to not interfere with boat traffic.
Their low cost means that many of them would be able to be deployed at once.
A 3D model of the kite, showing its shape and size.
Below is a video talking about Minesto’s unique technology.
“Minesto’s technology generates electricity from tidal streams and ocean currents by a unique and patented principle similar to a kite flying in the wind. “
-Minesto
Screenshot
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