DCNS company, OpenHydro, has installed the second turbine into EDF’s Paimpol-Bréhat tidal array off the coast of Brittany.
The second 16m turbine with a power generating capacity of 500KW can operate from a depth of 40m below the surface at a close proximity to the first device which was deployed in January.
Both the turbines when connected to the grid will mark it as world’s first grid-connected tidal array.
During the summer, the array will be connected to General Electric developed submarine converter, of which a single cable of the grid is expected to relay 1MW of energy to the French electrical grid.
OpenHydro chief executive James Ives said: "OpenHydro, DCNS and EDF have worked hand-in-hand to deliver this milestone for the tidal energy industry. Paimpol-Bréhat is a global industry first; giving us key insights into the operation of our turbines at array scale.
"On a technical and industrial level, it will help us prepare for delivery of EDF Energies Nouvelles’ Normandie Hydro project – a 14 MW array set to be deployed in 2018.
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By GlobalData"This historic achievement is also an essential step on the path to the commercialisation and in ensuring OpenHydro is well positioned to benefit from the €200bn tidal energy market which exists world-wide."
OpenHydro is also planning to establish a purpose-built turbine facility in Cherbourg which is intended to serve as an industrial hub to supplement the Normandie Hydro project.
The finalisation of the project is being discussed among OpenHydro , the Ports of Normandy Authority and the French government agency, SHEMA.
Image: OpenHydro installs second turbine into tidal array. Photo: courtesy of DCNS.
