Environmental Impact

A technology in harmony with nature

Minesto develops technology for renewable electricity from the ocean. With lightweight yet powerful tidal kites, our technology enables clean, predictable, affordable energy to reach a net-zero global energy system.

As a technology developer of a new renewable, we continuously analyse and monitor environmental impact closely, from our first ocean testing in 2012, to today, and in the future. Based on the broad range of studies and environmental research throughout the years, we conclude that our kite technology operates in harmony with the marine life, with no observed negative impacts on the environment.

Minesto’s kite technology has:

Zero collision incidents with marine mammals observed since first testing in 2012
Limited and unharmful noise to marine mammals
Minimal seabed ecosystem alterations

Environmental monitoring in close collaboration with universities and local authorities

From the first ocean testing of our kites back in 2012, Minesto has been collaborating with universities, authorities and research institutes to conduct environmental impact analyses of site areas. This is an endeavour that we prioritise and will continue to monitor and evaluate at every site we operate in.

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are conducted as an integral part of permitting and licensing processes for installation of new technologies. Minesto conducts different types of environmental monitoring on a regular basis. Examples of activities are:

Utilisation of Hydrophones (turbine sound, mammal observations)
Diving bird and marine mammal observations
Marine mammal tracking
Biological diversity investigations

Zero collision incidents with marine mammals observed

Since 2012, monitoring and assessing of the impact of Minesto’s technology and operations at Minesto’s sites have been conducted. Zero collision incidents with marine mammals have been observed.

Collision risk to marine mammals with Minesto’s technology is mitigated by the fact that the potential impact area (based on the swept area) is very small in comparison to the available sea area – there is plenty of room for mammals to avoid the kite.

Marine biologists have assessed and concluded that Minesto’s technology has a low risk profile (Booth et al., 2015).

Curious seal checking out the stationary Dragon captured on underwater camera installed on the Dragon

State of the Science Report shows low risk of marine animal or seabird colliding with a turbine

The latest 2024 State of the Science Report on “Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World” (Garavelli, L.et al., 2024) was published by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and other participating nations including the UK, under the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ocean Energy Systems initiative (OES).

The State of the Science Report 2024 concluded that:

To date, there have been no observations of a marine mammal or seabird colliding with a turbine, and the limited number of interactions observed of fishes in close proximity to a turbine have not resulted in obvious harm to the fishes (Garavelli et al., 2024; Sparling et al., 2020; Copping and Hemery, 2020).
The current state of the science related to mammal impact with tidal turbines is that there is no evidence that marine mammal cannot recognise the hazard of an operating tidal energy device and take suitable avoiding actions.

Further research strengthens evidence for “avoidance behaviour” among marine mammals

Monitoring and published information for other devices all suggest a high degree of avoidance and evasion by marine mammals when faced obstructions in the water column (Sparling et al., 2020).
Scientific studies show that seals and dolphins have been observed to adopt a verified “avoidance behaviour” to stay safe, and bird life studies have shown no risks (Gillespie et al., 2021).

Hydrophones are primarily used for monitoring environmental noise and to characterize specific systems at Minesto’s sites.

Noise levels of the kites are within safe thresholds for marine animals

The kites produce noise, primarily from the turbine/generator. This noise must be and is being kept under specific thresholds and/or above/under certain frequencies to avoid introducing damage
Environmental noise monitoring shows that noise levels at Minesto’s operation site is within safe thresholds for marina animals commonly found in the region.

An overall positive impact on biodiversity

At Minesto’s first test site in Portaferry, Northern Ireland, Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland was involved in assessing and monitoring the impact of Minesto’s technology on biodiversity in the region of operations.

Our joint research has shown that infrastructure has been integrated and homogenised as part of the surrounding areas. Moreover, indications of partial increase in species richness and diversity have also been observed at our operations site. Overall, postive impact on biodiversity was observed.

Above pictures from 2012, below pictures from 2017 (after 5 years of operating Minesto’s underwater tidal kites at the site)

Minesto AB
J A Wettergrens gata 14
421 30 Västra Frölunda
Sweden
+46 (0) 31-29 00 60

Minesto UK Ltd
Assembly Hall
Turkey Shore Road
Holyhead LL65 2DE
United Kingdom
+44 1 407 762907