Minesto has completed the test site infrastructure installations at the Holyhead Deep site off North Wales. After installing the upgraded infrastructure, the company has resumed testing of its commercial-scale DG500 kite system.
After a period of maintenance and upgrade, the microgrid system (MGS) buoy was lifted back into the sea from the quayside in Holyhead, towed to site and successfully reconnected to its pre-laid moorings. The MGS buoy, used for the first installation in Wales, handles and analyses generated electricity while also providing data communications with Minesto’s marine energy converter DG500.
Unstable weather all over the UK then interrupted some of the marine operations that was planned for the weekend. When operations were resumed, the subsea umbilical connecting the DG500 kite system with the MGS buoy could be installed. During the last few months the umbilical has been modified to incorporate a dry-mate connector in order to make it much easier to connect and disconnect the DG500 kite system offshore.
The last phase of the planned works was the installation and commissioning of the upgraded DG500 kite system. The DG500 was towed to site where the kite was re-connected to the seabed foundation. The operations this year build on last year’s commissioning program, especially looking at long-term operations. This will be used for optimisation and cost reduction of Minesto’s unique Deep Green technology.
“We are very pleased to be back in the water with the DG500 kite system, and we are looking forward to the continued testing operations. The team has made a great effort in upgrading the systems over winter and has executed the installation activities in an efficient and safe manner”, said Minesto’s Chief Operating Officer David Collier.
Bernt Erik Westre, Chief Technology Officer at Minesto commented: “It was great to see the upgraded DG500 start up and fly right away, as the current system is different from last year’s version in several key areas. The new method of installing the kite by towing and connecting it to the infrastructure at the foundation rather than on the surface worked really well. By eliminating offshore kite lifts, we have expanded our operational ability and capacity, while lowering the total cost level at the same time.”