Ocean currents carry great potential to generate electricity, now being harnessed with aeroplane-shaped “kites”. A leader in this space, Minesto, were represented by CEO, Dr Martin Edlund, at COP28 sessions today.
So how does this technology work?
- Underwater Kite Flight: Similar to flying a kite across the wind on a beach, this technology flies a wing underwater. The water’s density, nearly a thousand times greater than air, concentrates energy, enhancing the efficiency of the system.
- Tidal Energy Conversion: The wing utilizes hydrodynamic lift force generated by underwater currents to move the kite. Autonomously steered in a figure-of-eight trajectory by an onboard control system, the kite pulls a turbine through the water at a speed several times higher than the actual stream speed.
- Electricity Generation: The turbine’s motion turns a generator on the turbine shaft, producing electricity. The generated power is transmitted to the grid via a power cable in the tether, which also serves as a communication link, connected to a seabed umbilical leading to the shore.
Power Plant Components:
- The power plant comprises a wing carrying a turbine directly connected to a generator in a nacelle.
- A control system steers the kite using rudders and elevators.
- The tether accommodates ropes and cables for communication and power, connected to the seabed foundation through a simple latch for easy installation and recovery.
Expanding Ocean Energy Potential:
The cubic relationship between speed and power production significantly multiplies electricity generation compared to stationary turbines, expanding the global potential for tidal and ocean current extraction.
Source
Minesto debuts at COP28 and Our Technology, Minesto
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