The breakthrough stems from a critical engineering pivot. After discovering that local tidal currents in Vestmanna were significantly stronger than historical models suggested, Minesto’s team realized their existing hardware was leaving potential on the table. By integrating an upgraded power-take-off (PTO) system, the company bridged the gap between theoretical capacity and actual output. According to CEO Martin Edlund, the plant now functions as the most efficient tidal converter globally, with performance data consistently matching simulation models over several months of operation.
Minesto's Dragon 4 Kite Breaks Tidal Energy Production Records
In the waters of Vestmannasund, Faroe Islands, a subsea kite is rewriting the efficiency standards for renewable power. Minesto’s upgraded Dragon 4 plant has achieved record-breaking electricity generation this summer, proving that its new power-take-off system can capture energy with unprecedented precision across entire tidal flow cycles.
CTO Bernt Erik Westre noted that the upgraded system captures energy in direct proportion to the intensity of available currents, a feat that eluded earlier configurations. Beyond the raw output, the upgrade also serves to lower system costs. For Minesto, these results represent more than just a production milestone; the company maintains that the successful integration of this technology in the dynamic, high-pressure ocean environment substantially elevates the commercial value of their intellectual property.
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