OpenHydro deploys 2nd turbine for EDF tidal project in France

French naval defence group DCNS said Monday its OpenHydro subsidiary has deployed the second turbine for French utility EDF SA's (EPA:EDF) Paimpol-Brehat tidal array off the coast of Brittany.

The second 16-metre (52.5 ft) device was installed at a depth of 40 m next to the first one which was deployed in January. The two-strong array will be hooked to the grid over the summer, adding 1 MW of capacity. The turbines will be connected to a submarine converter, developed by General Electric (GE) and the power generated will be exported to the grid through a single cable.

The second turbine left the port of Brest on May 26 and after a one-day trip was lowered on to the seabed on May 29 by OpenHydro's deployment barge.

James Ives, chief executive of Ireland-based OpenHydro, said the project would help the company prepare for EDF Energies Nouvelles' 14-MW Normandie Hydro array slated for deployment in 2018. "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 EUR 200 billion [USD 223bn] tidal energy market which exists world-wide," he added.

OpenHydro also announced plans for a turbine facility in Cherbourg to serve as a hub for the Normandie Hydro project. DCNS and OpenHydro are in talks with the Ports of Normandy Authority and French government agency SHEMA to finalise plans for the facility.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.113)

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