Project description
Flying a kite underwater to power Europe’s islands
It is usually the smallest islands that have some of the highest electricity costs! Powering islands is expensive. It is also inefficient and depends on external supply. With 2 400 inhabited islands in Europe, there is pressure to find a solution that is good for the environment, the economy and the island residents. In this context, the EU-funded DG Island Mode project is searching for solutions beyond the existing renewable alternatives, which are difficult to rely on. The project has developed a stand-alone tidal and ocean current energy converter for off-grid applications. Imagine a kite flying underwater, generating a speed that is nearly 10 times the speed of the actual current. According to the project, this solution is easy to install and maintain, and at a low cost. It is also cleaner and more reliable for islands.
Objective
15 million Europeans live on Europe’s 2,400 inhabited islands, at an average of approximately 1,500 households per island. As recognised by the European Commission, island energy is expensive, polluting, inefficient and dependent on external supply, with significant negative impacts on emissions, the competitiveness of businesses, and the economy.
Assuming that just 65% of these islands’ electricity comes from diesel, we estimate that they produce approximately 17.5 million tonnes of CO2 every year. This is further increased when considering isolated coastal communities. Existing renewable alternatives are often unsuitable for these communities, such as wind and solar power, as the energy they generate is unpredictable and intermittent, making it difficult to rely on. They also have a large land footprint and high CAPEX costs. Tidal energy is also often unsuitable, as it requires fast tidal flows (over 2.5m/s) which only occur in a few specific hot spots around the World. The technology is also expensive, with both high CAPEX and OPEX costs.
The Deep Green Island Mode (DG Island Mode) is a stand-alone tidal and ocean current energy converter for off-grid applications. The DG Island Mode is the concept of flying an underwater kite, that when steered in an 8-shaped trajectory, generates a speed of 8-10 times the speed of the actual current. This generates the following unique performance characteristics:
- Generates cost effective electricity in tidal flows as low as 1.3 m/s
- Generates up to 100kW, producing an estimated 0.35 GWh/year, enough to power 100 homes;
- Can be located close to the shore;
- Up to 15 times lighter per kW compared to other tidal energy solutions - Easy, low cost installation and maintenance (low CAPEX and OPEX costs);
- Cost of energy 50% lower than diesel generators DG Island Mode offers cheap, clean, reliable electricity generation to island communities.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuels
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generation
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydroelectricitymarine energytidal energy
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
426 71 VASTRA FROLUNDA
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.