The bottom joint system that will be used to moor Minesto’s DG500 device to the seabed in Holyhead Deep, Wales has been installed onto the gravity-based foundation.
The bottom joint functions as a locking mechanism between the power plant’s tether and the seabed foundation. It is also articulated in two axis, which enables the kite to fly its full pattern while being safely linked to the foundation.
The device is in two parts, where one part is integrated in the seabed foundation and the other to the tether. The two parts are joined together with an hydraulic locking device. This integrated solution allows to connect and disconnect the bottom joint subsea.
The bottom joint system used for Minesto’s DG500 installation is a version of Subsea Riser Products’ (SRP) Rocksteady, dimensioned for Minesto’s needs.