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Minesto Dragon 4 Delivers Record Power Generation After PTO Upgrade

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Minesto's Dragon 4 tidal power plant set a summer electricity production record in the Faroe Islands after a power-take-off system upgrade, the company said Monday.

The upgraded PTO system helped Dragon 4 capture more energy throughout the tidal flow cycle, while stronger-than-expected tidal flows in Vestmannasund created additional production potential, Minesto said.

"We have now demonstrated what we believe to be the most efficient tidal energy power plant in the world in terms of energy conversion performance. This is proven through continuous production over several months," says Martin Edlund, chief executive officer of Minesto.

Minesto's engineering team developed a more powerful PTO after the original system could not fully capture the stronger tidal flows and the Dragon Class's improved hydrodynamic efficiency, the company said.

The upgraded PTO has increased energy production across all tidal flow cycles while lowering system costs, Minesto said.

The production results matched Minesto's simulation models, further supporting its ability to design power plant configurations that maximize energy extraction at individual sites, Edlund said.

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