#Sweden #Gothenburg #Minesto #Dragon 12 #Dragon Farm

Minesto's Progress on Hestfjord Dragon Farm

Minesto AB, a pioneering company in ocean energy, has made significant strides in advancing its Hestfjord Dragon Farm plans following the successful operation of its Dragon 12 system. After four months of connecting Dragon 12 to the energy grid, the team turned its attention this autumn to evaluating performance metrics and refining technical systems crucial to operating one of the world's first marine energy power plants.

In this phase of development, a comprehensive third-party technology review was carried out by the independent expert DNV, providing critical insights into the plant’s operational capabilities. Moreover, Minesto’s ongoing assessment of tidal conditions at both the Vestmanna and Hestfjord sites has underscored the latter's promising potential for energy generation, cementing Minesto's commitment to the establishment of its Dragon farm there.

The latest specifications for the Hestfjord Dragon Farm have now been completed, targeting an initial capacity of 10 MW. Key advancements include:

1. Tidal Resource Assessment: The evaluation of site conditions has confirmed improvements, providing valuable data for a tailored design of the Dragon 12 systems specifically optimized for Hestfjord.
2. Increased Generator Capacity: While the overall hardware configuration will remain largely intact, the generator capacity will be enhanced to 1.75 MW, representing a substantial upgrade.
3. Design Adaptations: Adjustments to the wing profile and an allowance for a longer tether are expected to boost production efficiency.
4. Streamlined Maintenance Concepts: The team has refined service and maintenance protocols for onshore and offshore operations, ultimately leading to reduced operating costs.
5. Proven Solutions for Infrastructure: The confirmed viability of existing solutions for subsea cables and onshore transformer setups means that unnecessary complexity can be avoided, facilitating a more straightforward build-out.
6. Foundation Solutions: The drilled and grouted foundation methodologies applied in Vestmanna have been validated as suitable for the Hestfjord project as well.

Dr. Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto, expressed enthusiasm for the recent developments, stating, "We've reached the conclusion that we can deliver the lowest cost ocean energy with our initial array setup while targeting a near-perfect tidal location for our technology. Despite the challenges of starting on a smaller scale, we anticipate making significant strides in reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) as our project progresses."

Operational Developments Continue in Vestmanna

In parallel with the Hestfjord developments, Minesto is enhancing its operational frameworks in Vestmanna. Recent operational campaigns have focused on refining launch and recovery methods for Dragon 12, which are vital for ensuring efficient multi-kite operations in Hestfjord. The company is also prepping for the deployment of additional small-scale units for microgrid customers, further diversifying its operational capabilities.

A tether length extension of 15% is set to be implemented, enhancing the operational flexibility of the Dragon 12 series and positioning Minesto well for the commercial buildout in Hestfjord. The development of reliable operational procedures for critical subsystems is a priority, ensuring that the transition from testing to broader commercial operations is seamless.

As Minesto prepares for its next major phase of development, focus will be placed on array build-out and the associated commercial scalability. With continued investment in technological advancement and operational efficiency, Minesto stands poised to lead in the ocean energy space.

For those interested in this innovative journey towards sustainable energy, additional details can be acquired from the company's Chief Communications Officer, Cecilia Sernhage at [contact details].