Minesto operates in Sweden and other countries, including the Faroe Islands, Wales, and Taiwan. This country uses underwater kite (a tethered device) technology to generate electricity. The underwater kites produce electricity by moving with tidal currents.

Unlike traditional turbines, the kite captures energy from slow-moving water, too. As the kite moves, water flows through its turbines, spins the blades, and converts kinetic energy into electricity. The movement of the kite amplifies the speed of water passing through the turbines. 

The deployment of the underwater kite in the Faroe Islands shows the real-world success of this initiative. As more countries seek better initiatives, they can explore tidal energy through Minesto’s underwater kite.

Using the moon’s gravity to generate electricity in Sweden

The moon’s gravitational pull is a key force behind Earth’s ocean tides. As the moon orbits Earth, its gravity attracts water toward it and forms a bulge. On the opposite side, inertia creates another bulge. These bulges produce high tides. 

The kinetic energy of moving water during the rising and falling tides can be used for electricity generation. Tidal turbines capture this movement. Therefore, as water flows through the turbine blades, they spin and drive a generator that turns kinetic energy into usable power. Unlike wind and solar energy, which can fluctuate daily or by season, tides follow lunar cycles, like spring and neap tides. This reliability makes tidal energy more reliable than other renewables for users.

In certain regions, tidal energy trumps solar and wind energy. For northern latitudes with limited sunlight during winter, tidal currents provide a consistent energy source. Coastal communities and islands (like the Faroe Islands) can benefit from local generation, hence reducing imported electricity. Exploring tidal energy is a more advanced approach to harnessing celestial bodies for a consistent power supply, like this groundbreaking energy-producing window, redefining renewable energy. 

A practical demonstration of how underwater kites harness tides

As established earlier, underwater kites are tethered to the seabed. They move in a figure-eight pattern through tidal currents. As the kites move, the speed of water passing through the turbines increases. Also, as water spins the blade, the connected generator produces electricity. The energy is transmitted to shore through underwater cables.

The underwater kites are not merely designed to generate electricity. Instead, they have monitoring systems that track the kites’ trajectory, turbine performance, and structural health. This allows the turbine to maintain safe operation, allows predictive maintenance, and avoids downtime. These kites can be retrieved for inspection without disrupting the marine ecosystem. 

Marine energy output depends on tidal range and flow speed. For example, the Sweden underwater kite energy does the same. Spring tides (when the moon and sun align) generate more powerful currents. This enhances electricity generation.

Communities in islands and coastal regions can use underwater kites to generate electricity. This step can reduce their reliance on imported energy or fossil fuels.

Environmental benefits of Sweden’s underwater kite energy

Sweden’s underwater kite energy offers huge environmental benefits. Its minimal seabed footprint and low noise emissions allow marine ecosystems to thrive. Unlike large solar farms, it does not require a large expanse of land. Tidal energy provides more predictability than other sources that rely on wind or solar output.

Sweden’s underwater kite energy is a big innovation in energy and electricity generation. It continues to provide a reliable, clean, and sustainable power source. Communities that can explore tidal energy will improve their efficiency and reduce reliance on other power sources, just like this revolutionary kitepower, which captures energy from the air.