EU Innovation Fund Backs Minesto Euro Dragon Farm Tidal Kite Array

19 October 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

Minesto, a leading ocean energy developer, has announced that the company has been selected by the European Commission to enter Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) for funding of 20.2 M EUR under the Innovation Fund (Call INNOVFUND-2025-NZT). The selected project, Euro Dragon Farm, is a first-of-its-kind 10 MW tidal kite array planned for deployment in Ireland. Minesto now enters the GAP phase to finalize and sign the grant agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). This process will be finalized in the first quarter of 2027.

(Image credit: Minesto)

“Being selected for this 20.2 M EUR grant contribution to our latest project development opportunity, the Euro Dragon Farm, is the most significant commercial milestone in Minesto’s history so far. Our dragon technology competitiveness, attractiveness of the Dragon Farm investment case and our assessed project execution capability have been highly rated, resulting in Minesto being selected to spearhead the commercial build-out of Europe’s tidal energy sector,” said Dr. Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto.

About the Project

The Minesto Euro Dragon Farm, the EU’s first Dragon Farm tidal energy project, aims to demonstrate a tidal array in Irish coastal waters, delivering up to 10 MW of predictable renewable electricity to the grid. The project deploys a first-of-its-kind technology tailored to low-velocity tidal currents, using a cost-efficient low-weight design. The project will create local supply chains and skills development and provide a replicable and exportable solution that strengthens Europe’s long-term energy security and resilience.