Naval defence firm DCNS and Bpifrance have announced the creation of new company DCNS Energies to target the global marine renewable energy industry, with support from Technip Group and BNP Paribas Development.
DCNS Energies, majority owned by DCNS and 36% by the SPI fund of Bpifrance, will devote its activity to the industrial and commercial development of three technologies for the production of electricity from Marine Renewable Energies (MRE): tidal turbine power that uses the kinetic energy of sea currents, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and offshore wind energy via semi- submersible floats. DCNS Energies positions itself as a turnkey constructor of MRE plants for the French and export markets.
The new company intends to mature these three MRE technologies before moving on to the industrial phase in the near future, a statement said. It will be backed by a sound industrial partnership through the stake in the company acquired by Technip, which will bring its expertise in the engineering and management of complex projects in the marine environment. BNP Paribas Développement will also support the company.
In addition to the contributions in terms of industrial facilities and intellectual property of DCNS, the four shareholders will provide a total of € 100 million in equity for DCNS Energies, which will also use financial leverage.
For DCNS, the creation of DCNS Energies is a continuation of the R&D work carried out by the Group since 2008, and the acquisition of the OpenHydro start-up in 2013.
"The creation of DCNS Energies is part of our strategic action plan, one of whose aims is to apply our technical expertise and generate growth in the employment areas of DCNS in France,” explained Hervé Guillou, Chairman and CEO of DCNS. “By positioning ourselves in the fast-emerging market of MREs, the partnership with Bpifrance, Technip and BNP Paribas will allow us to develop a French sector that creates jobs and added value on a global scale. I am convinced that DCNS Energies will successfully meet the technological and commercial challenges of the sector and achieve its ambition to become a world leader in the marine renewable energies industry."???
??According to Thierry Kalanquin, CEO of DCNS Energies: "We have serious assets with which to succeed on this market: renowned experts, advanced technology, turnkey offers covering the lifetime of projects, and an expanding portfolio of sites. The creation of DCNS Energies is a boost for the entire industrial sector that will follow this development. "
For Bpifrance, the creation of DCNS Energies has several industrial and environmental interests. The new company has significant potential for creating jobs concentrated around the employment areas of Brest, Nantes and Cherbourg, the latest site having already begun the construction of an assembly plant for tidal turbines.
