Tapping into the Moon's energy doesn't require a spaceship — just a bold new approach to renewable energy. Annika Ölme, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Technology Development at SKF, discusses how innovative technologies are already creating opportunities to harness energy from the moon's gravitational pull — right here on Earth.
1. The idea: What is the Faroe Islands tidal energy project?
Ölme: The Faroe Islands is a small island nation between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic. There, together with our customer Minesto, we've developed a tidal energy initiative unlike any other in the world.
This project harnesses tidal energy, generated by the moon's gravitational pull, offering a renewable and predictable power source. Unlike traditional energy sources, tidal streams are entirely predictable based on lunar cycles, making them a reliable renewable energy option. This natural resource holds significant potential to support the Faroe Islands' ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
2. How it's done: How are you harnessing energy from tidal streams?
Ölme: As the Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth and its oceans, it creates tidal streams. These powerful flows of water generate immense energy. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, we've supported the development of a way to harness this energy — LUNA 12.
LUNA 12 reimagines the concept of kites. Rather than soaring through the air, it glides through the ocean at depths of 60-120 meters, driving water through a turbine to generate energy. The technology is designed to operate in low-velocity tidal and ocean currents, making it suitable for areas with slower tidal flows compared to what traditional tidal turbines require.
The wing uses the hydrodynamic lift force created by the underwater current to move the kite. With an onboard control system, the kite is autonomously steered in a predetermined figure-of-eight trajectory, pulling the turbine through the water at a flow several times higher than the actual stream speed. The turbine shaft turns the generator which outputs electricity to the grid via a power cable in the tether and a seabed umbilical to the shore.
3. The background: Who's behind this innovation?
Ölme: This tidal energy project is a collaboration between SKF, Minesto, and the Faroe Islands. SKF is the world's largest bearing manufacturer with a commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. Minesto is an ocean energy technology developer specializing in tidal energy systems. The Faroe Islands, along with the inter-municipal community power company SEV, has one of the world's most ambitious energy transition initiatives, aiming to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
SKF designed the bearing and sealing systems for the rudders and elevators of the kites, and we collaborated closely with Minesto to optimize the LUNA 12 kite for demanding operational environments. The result is a tidal energy technology that is being tested for potential large-scale deployment.
The initiative underscores the critical role of cross-industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing in accelerating innovation, advancing the shift to renewables and shaping a more sustainable energy future. This project serves as a potential blueprint for broader cooperation across sectors.
4. The impact: What's the current status and potential?
Ölme: The Faroe Islands, with its strong political will, unique ocean conditions, and supportive infrastructure, provide an ideal setting to test and refine this technology. Currently, LUNA 12 is connected to the Faroese power grid, but as the project is in its pilot phase, electricity production is still in relatively small volumes.
LUNA 12 represents a significant scaling up in capacity compared to earlier models. When operating at its rated power of 1.2 megawatts continuously, it could generate substantial electricity for the local grid. The exact number of households it can power depends on various factors including local consumption patterns, capacity factor, and grid integration efficiency.
Looking ahead, Minesto and SEV are exploring the potential for a larger tidal energy facility. If developed, this expanded capacity could contribute significantly to the Faroe Islands' renewable energy mix, supporting their goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 for the nation's approximately 50,000 people.
While ocean energy currently represents a small part of the global renewable energy mix, areas with suitable tidal conditions around the world could potentially benefit from similar technology. The actual global potential depends on many factors including geographical conditions, infrastructure requirements, and economic viability in each location.
5. Looking ahead: What's next for this project and SKF's future innovations?
This tidal energy initiative is just one example of how SKF works with customers to advance new approaches and innovations in energy technology development and across other sectors. We recognize the important role we can play in reducing friction in projects and applications worldwide.
Studies indicate that approximately 20-30% of global energy consumption is lost due to friction, particularly in transportation and industrial sectors. Anywhere bearings are used, there's an opportunity to enhance efficiency and reduce friction, and we're proud of our innovations across various industries in making that a reality.
As tidal energy technology continues to develop, initiatives like this one in the Faroe Islands provide valuable real-world testing environments to address challenges and improve systems for potential broader implementation.
