EC says okay to French support for tidal power demo

The European Commission today cleared the 14-MW Normandie Hydro tidal energy demonstration project in France to receive support from the French government.

The Commission notes that the project promotes market penetration of a novel renewable energy technology and has determined that the level of offered state aid is proportionate and will not lead to overcompensation.

The Normandie Hydro project is being developed by OpenHydro and will be operated by EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN). The tidal array will comprise seven turbines installed on the seafloor at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula, on the English Channel.

The demo facility will benefit both from operating and investment aid. A portion of the investment support will be paid in the form of repayable advances that will be reimbursed if the technology is successful, the EC explained in its statement.

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