Forget solar: Faroe Islands is tapping renewable lunar energy

While others race into outer space, the Faroe Islands are exploring a new frontier right here on Earth – tapping into renewable “moon” energy through the power of the tides.

In the old days, Faroese seafarers relied on the moon, tidal flows and ocean currents to find fishing grounds and to navigate trade routes across the Atlantic. Now, these same lunar forces are being put to use in a different way, to harvest a new and predictable renewable energy source for the local grid.

Swedish technology companies SKF and Minesto, working in collaboration with the Faroese public energy company SEV, are behind this innovative energy project that’s taking shape beneath the waves in the North Atlantic.

“We are in the middle of a new space race. And everyone is looking at the potential of how can we extract
resources from space and other planets,” Annika Ölme, chief technology officer at SKF, told IFLScience.

“There is one way to do it, right here on our planet.”

New LUNA vision

At the heart of this tidal energy project is LUNA, an underwater kite that flies silently in the ocean, harvesting power from tidal currents driven by the Moon. When attached to the seabed, the kite follows a predetermined figure-eight trajectory, moving through the water several times faster than the actual streams.

Then as tidal streams are forced through LUNA’s multiple turbines, renewable “moon” energy is generated.

Tidal energy  is a reliable source of renewable power. Unlike other renewable resources like solar, wind, and hydro, which are often dependent on unpredictable weather conditions, tidal energy follows a precise and regular cycle. Driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon, tides rise and fall predictably, ensuring a stable and continuous source of power. As a result, tidal energy provides an important advantage in energy planning, especially in regions where weather conditions can make other renewable sources more unpredictable

The ultimate vision for the project is a 200 MW tidal facility that could cover 40% of the Faroese local electricity demand, bringing the islands closer to the territory’s ambitious climate goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.