Through this industrial partnership agreement, GDF Suez and its partners will be able to combine their know-how and collaborate through the construction, assembly, and maintenance phases of the future Raz Blanchard pilot plant.
The Group selected the Voith Hydro-designed HyTide marine technology to outfit all or part of this pilot plant. ACE and CMN's location at the port of Cherbourg is considered an advantage for carrying out these operations, which for the most part must be performed near the site of immersion of the marine turbines. Cofely Endel, also based at Cherbourg, will provide its industrial maintenance skills and technical project management expertise for this type of enterprise.
In a statement, GDF Suez said it is aiming to help create an industrial marine current sector in France and develop a project that respects the local environment. It has worked with maritime and administrative authorities, not-for-profit organizations and fishermen to accommodate local economic activities and the particularities of the site.
After the UK, France is reported to have the second largest tidal power potential in Europe. As France's premier tidal power site, Raz-Blanchard alone accounts for 50% of this potential and, with the Passage du Fromveur in Brittany, is one of two projects being carried out in France by GDF Suez. The Group's objective is to obtain approvals to install in 2016 a pilot plant of 3 to 6 turbines representing power of 3 to 12MW.
