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HydroQuest
Technology
2019-2021: a new test campaign has been underway since April 2019 with the immersion at 35 m depth of the OceanQuest tidal turbine designed by the French start-up HydroQuest and built by CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie). This 1 MW demonstrator injected its first kWh into the grid in June 2019, for an end of tests scheduled for autumn 2021.
Featuring a unique two-vertical-axes technology, this cross-flow turbine is unaffected by tidal current direction, enabling the unit to be fixed to its foundation without any production loss. The all-metal structure improves resistance to water-related constraints while reducing the cost of maintenance and operations.
Results
On 16 July 2020, the 1MW OceanQuest tidal turbine obtained certification for its power curve by Bureau Veritas. The tidal turbine deployed in Paimpol-Bréhat has been certified for its power curve, which meets the requirements of the IEC 62600-200 standard evaluating the performance of the measurement of tidal energy converters.
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Naval Energies/Openhydro/EDF
Technology
Between 2010 and 2016, OpenHydro/Naval Energies have deployed and tested in real conditions four 16m-diameter turbines: two first turbines in stand-alone (2010/2011 and 2013/2014) and then two turbines connected to the grid deployed in 2016 and recovered in 2017.
The Paimpol-Bréhat demonstration project consisted of an array of two OpenHydro tidal turbines, an offshore subsea substation containing an AC/DC converter module, a 15 km DC cable exporting power from the converter module to the shore (landfall in the “Anse de Launay”) and connected to an onshore transformer.
Results
Each stage of the project has led to major results and lessons learnt:
- public acceptance and planning consent,
- permitting procedures,
- environmental impact assessment and monitoring,
- export cable design,
- installation and stabilization,
- power conversion and connection system specifications,
- fabrication and installation,
- marine operations procedures allowing safe deployment and recovery of the devices and commissioning tests proving the proper operation of the optical and electrical interfaces.
