Swedish tidal-energy developer Minesto (www.minesto.com) has launched a tender to find a fabricator for the wing of its new DG100 model.

The wing will be built on a new design resulting from Minesto’s ocean trials in Northern Ireland and Wales and its extensive simulation work over the last few years.

CTO Bernt Erik Westre said: “The team is making great progress on the DG100 project.

“The new wing design introduces several enhancements to further increase the performance of our Deep Green technology.

“It is also representative of what next-generation utility-scale power plants will look like.”

The design changes incorporated in the DG100 model include the wing-lets and the anhedral wing shape (a downward angle, common on military fighters).

This combination generates a much higher lift force without increasing the wing span, while at the same time improving the efficiency and manoeuvrability of the power plant.

Other enhancements include integrated sensors and front strut attachments, as well as a new section profile.

The DG100 is the first model being developed in Minesto’s Microgrid range of patented marine-energy systems — intended for off-grid environments, such as remote islands or communities, aquaculture and so on.

The first two DG100 installations are planned for the Faroe Islands, where Minesto signed a collaboration agreement with the local utility SEV in November.