A second turbine bound for EDF’S Paimpol-Brehat tidal array has been successfully deployed by OpenHydro.
Once the turbines are connected to the grid the project will be the world’s first grid-connected tidal array.
The turbine was lowered onto the seabed off the coast of Brittany using OpenHydro’s deployment barge.
The second 16 metre turbine will operate at a depth if 40 metres below the surface close to the first device which was deployed in January.
James Ives, OpenHydro chief executive, 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. This historic achievement is also an essential step on the path to commercialisation and in ensuring OpenHydro is well positioned to benefit from the €200 billion tidal energy market which exists world-wide.”
Over the summer, the array will be connected to a submarine converter, developed by General Electric.
A single cable will make landfall – exporting 1MW of energy to the French electrical grid.
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