The tests currently being carried out in Strangford Lough have proved that power production from slow currents using a surface-mounted installation can be viable and is a concept that is directly transferable to full commercial installations in ocean currents. The sea trial of the system measures the long time performance of Deep Green in order to provide valuable insights for the first full-scale installation, planned for 2015.
Minesto CEO Anders Jansson described the system as a “break-through for the entire renewable energy industry.” The company claims that the system is the only known power plant that works cost-effectively in low velocity tidal and ocean currents.
“Our technology is indeed different from other marine power plants” said Anders Jannsson. “It has been a long fight to get to the point where we are but when you have what we have, it is worth it. We will produce renewable electricity with high reliability to a cost that will compete, or even be lower, than conventional energy sources.”
Deep Green has a three-metre long wing and is tethered to an offshore control room in Strangford Lough. A specifically equipped RIB boat enables safe and cost effective offshore operations.
The sea trial in Northern Ireland measures long time performance of Deep Green for valuable insights for the first full scale installation of Deep Green, planned for 2015 and also possibly somewhere in the UK. The Deep Green demonstrator has a three metre long wing and is tethered to an offshore control room in Strangford Lough.
“The challenge has been that the currents are too slow and the sites are too deep for most available marine power plants” Jansson said. “Deep Green solves that problem. Minesto's technology will contribute to make countries like the USA, Japan and Taiwan carbon neutral and independent energy producers, instead of hugely dependent on fossil based and imported energy. Just to take an example: Taiwan claims that 50 per cent of their energy can be supplied from the ocean currents along the coast if they just find a viable technology, and we believe that Deep Green is that technology. Today Taiwan depends on 98 per cent imported energy which is a threat to the country's economy.”
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