TidalKite System Development
by SeaQurrent
Deliverable D.1.2.3
Within the Interreg North-West Europe SHINES project, SeaQurrent has continued the development and validation of its innovative TidalKite technology. The project has focused on preparing the full TidalKite system for demonstration in a real marine environment and advancing the technology towards future large scale development.
1). Kite 2). Tether 3). Cylinder 4). PTO 5). Export cable
The TidalKite is an underwater energy system that generates predictable renewable electricity from tidal currents. By ‘flying’ through the water in a controlled trajectory, the system can harvest energy from a larger area than conventional tidal technologies, also enabling efficient operation in locations with moderate tidal flows. This creates opportunities for a wider range of islands and coastal regions to benefit from predictable renewable energy generation.
During the SHINES project, significant progress was made in integrating and validating the key elements of the TidalKite system. Development activities included the underwater kite, power conversion system, tether connection, control systems and supporting infrastructure. Extensive testing and verification activities were carried out to confirm that the individual subsystems and the integrated system operate as intended.
A major focus area was the continued refinement of autonomous control strategies that enable the TidalKite to operate throughout changing tidal conditions. These developments contribute to improving operational reliability and maximising energy production throughout the tidal cycle. In addition to technical development, the project provided valuable opportunities to perform integrated testing under representative operating conditions. The results helped identify further optimisation opportunities while confirming the readiness of the system for future demonstration activities.
The preparatory work, testing activities and system validation carried out during SHINES have substantially strengthened the maturity of the technology. The project has delivered valuable technical knowledge, operational experience and practical insights that will support future deployments.
By advancing the readiness of hydrokinetic technologies such as the TidalKite, SHINES contributes to reducing barriers for future deployment and strengthening renewable energy solutions for islands and coastal communities across North-West Europe. The experience gained through this work helps pave the way for broader adoption of predictable, locally generated tidal energy as part of Europe's sustainable energy transition.