Minesto boosts Dragon 12 tidal turbine performance by 25%

Swedish marine energy developer Minesto announced that its Dragon 12 tidal power system, installed in the Vestmannasund strait in the Faroe Islands, has achieved a 25% improvement in energy output following a technical modification to its tether. The result validates internal simulation forecasts and represents a significant milestone toward the commercial development of this subsea turbine technology.

Technical upgrade and performance validation

The performance gain comes from a 10-metre extension to the tether securing the Dragon 12 unit, also known as Luna. This adjustment allows the device to access stronger tidal currents, directly improving energy yield. Minesto stated that the improvement had been predicted through numerical modelling, with on-site measurements now confirming the technical assumptions used to support its scale-up plans.

Minesto Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Edlund said the results support the projected output volumes for future deployments of the technology in the region. “We are very pleased with Dragon 12’s operation and performance in line with our predictions,” he said, adding that this helps reduce risk for investors in future projects.

Demonstration site and commercial ambitions

The Vestmanna site, already operational as a demonstration platform, also plays a strategic role in Minesto’s commercial development. According to the company, several delegations from utility partners, energy ministries and potential commercial customers recently visited the facility to observe the technology in live operation.

Minesto now aims to leverage these results to attract new partners and finance the construction of the first commercial Dragon Farm, which will group several Dragon 12 units. The company considers the project a world-first in grid-connected tidal energy installations.

“With Dragon 12 production data and a clear build-out plan, we are ready to engage investors for the next step,” said Dr Martin Edlund.