Swedish tidal developer Minesto has launched a tender for the fabrication of the wing for its new DG100 model.
The DG100 is the first tidal kite model being developed in Minesto’s microgrid product line and is rated at around 100kW, smaller than its DG500 utility-scale model of 500kW.
Minesto chief technical officer Bernt Erik Westre said the new wing design introduces several enhancements to improve efficiency and manoeuvrability plus integrated sensors and front strut attachments as well as a new section profile.
“It is also representative of what next generation utility scale power plants will look like,” he added.
The wing will be built on a design that is the result both of learnings from Minesto’s ocean trials in Northern Ireland and Wales and extensive CFD simulation.
The first DG100 installations are planned for the Faroe Islands, where Minesto in November signed a collaboration agreement with the local utility SEV.
Minesto is scheduled to install both 100kW machines next year.