Tidal demonstrator to be built by HydroQuest and the CMN group

Industry Database Chantier Mecaniques de Normandie

HydroQuest and CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) are set to launch an innovate demonstration project for the tidal energy sector.

Launched at the International Tidal Energy Summit earlier this month, the project involves installing an ocean-based 1 MW hydrokinetic tidal turbine at the Paimpol-Bréhat site, as part of an agreement with EDF.

Pierre Balmer, CEO of CMN, said: “The partnership surrounding the demonstrator is part of our growth strategy for marine renewable energies, a sector which will become one of the pillars for our company over time, in addition to our historical activity in naval construction.”

He added: “This project, which further solidifies the collaboration we have established with HydroQuest over the past several years, confirms the launch of a French tidal hydrokinetic turbine industry in which we are now present alongside HydroQuest.”

It will be implemented with support from the University of Caen Normandie and was selected in France’s call-for-projects funded by the State in the context of its Investments in the Future Program and operated by ADEME.

“Being selected by ADEME demonstrates real recognition by the State of our HydroQuest hydrokinetic turbine technology, which has already proven its effectiveness in river scenarios,” explained Jean-François Simon, CEO of HydroQuest

He concluded: Following the validation of our demonstrator’s operation, our goal will be to implement pilot farms with a few turbines in France and around the world. We will then move forward with the installation of commercial farms starting in 2019, thus participating in the energy transition that is already taking place.”

The demonstrator’s goal is to validate this machine’s performance under real operating conditions, with plans for commercialisation on an international scale by 2019.

By Alice Mason