'Dragon 12' is a power generation system with a wingspan of 12 meters and a weight of 28 tons that generates renewable energy by swimming underwater.
28-ton, 1.2-megawatt tidal kite is now exporting power to the grid
https://newatlas.com/energy/minesto-tidal-kite/
Minesto | Dragon 12
https://minesto.com/products/kite-systems/dragon-12/
Renewable energy , which can generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases that cause global warming, is becoming a cornerstone of power grid planning in recent years. Tidal power is one such renewable energy that is attracting attention. In recent years, several companies have been working on commercializing power generation systems using tidal power, and Minesto is one of them.
There are companies other than Minesto that develop power generation systems using tidal power, and Orbital Marine Power generates power with ``the world's most powerful tidal turbine.'' Minesto's Dragon 12, on the other hand, takes a different and surprisingly dynamic approach by anchoring itself to the ocean floor and generating power while floating underwater like a kite.
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The Dragon 12 has a wingspan of 12 meters, so when transporting it, it must be broken down into small pieces to fit into containers. However, it is very compact compared to the turbines used for normal wind power generation, and the work of fixing it to the seabed is 'very easy'.
As with any power generation system that uses renewable energy, the important thing is the cost performance of the power generation system. According to Minesto, the LCoE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) of Dragon 12 as of 2017 was '$108/MWh', but this has fallen to '$54/MWh' at the time of article creation.
Orbital Marine Power, which develops the same tidal power generation system, claims that it is continuing to develop its tidal turbine's LCoE to be less than '$253/MWh', compared to the Dragon 12's LCoE. You should see how good it is. Additionally, according to the U.S. Department of Energy , the estimated average LCoE for anchored offshore wind power projects in 2022 is ``$89/MWh,'' so Dragon 12 has better cost performance than this. Become.
Dragon 12, like other tidal power systems, can be more effective depending on the location. In particular, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic between the UK and Iceland seem to have an ideal environment for Dragon 12. Home to around 55,000 people and more than 1 million puffins, the Faroe Islands are fed by tidal currents through numerous narrow waterways. As a result, the water is significantly accelerated, increasing the power generation efficiency of Dragon 12.
Dragon 12 was first deployed to the Faroe Islands and began supplying power to the grid on February 9, 2024. Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto, said: “Today is an important day for Minesto. We have reached the most important milestone in the company's history by delivering power to the grid with a megawatt power plant. 'Dragon 12 delivers powerful, cost-effective, and predictable power to the grid.'
The state of Dragon 12 deployed in the Faroe Islands can be seen in the video below.
Minesto reaches historic milestone – first electricity to grid with tidal powerplant Dragon 12 - YouTube
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