The Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm is a tidal stream turbine demonstration site, located northeast of Île-de-Bréhat near Paimpol, Brittany, France. It was initially developed by Électricité de France (EdF), initiated in 2004 and construction work began in 2008, but the project was subsequently cancelled by EdF in 2018.[1][2] This project was to use OpenHydro turbines, with two briefly installed in 2016, but they were later removed.
| Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | France |
| Location | Off Île-de-Bréhat, near Paimpol |
| Coordinates | 48°55′N 2°53′W / 48.91°N 2.89°W |
| Status | Under construction |
| Commission date | Will not be commissioned |
| Construction cost | US$55 million |
| Tidal power station | |
| Type | Tidal stream generator |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 0 |
| Make and model | DCNS |
| Nameplate capacity | 1 MW 8 MW (Planned) |
Paimpol–Bréhat is now used as a test site, owned by EdF and managed with support from Seeneoh and Bretagne Ocean Power.[3][4] In September 2022, the 2 MW three-phase AC grid connection was upgraded, allowing devices to be connected above the water without the need for divers.[5]
The test site is about 10 km offshore and covers a rectangular area approximately 140 m × 250 m. Water depths vary across the site at 26 m to 42 m below LAT, with a tidal range of about 11.5 m. Telemac 2D modelling gives a depth averaged velocity on a medium spring tide peaks at around 2.1–2.8 m/s.[6]
French developer HydroQuest tested a 1 MW turbine called OceanQuest at Paimpol–Bréhat between April 2019 and December 2021.[7]
EdF OpenHydro project (2004–2018)
editThe Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm was initially developed by Électricité de France (EdF), starting in 2004. According to EdF, when completed it would be the world's largest tidal array and the world's first grid-connected tidal energy farm.[8]
A 250 kW OpenHydro turbine called L’Arcouest was tested at the site between December 2013 and April 2014.[9] This turbine was never planned to be grid connected.
The tidal farm was proposed to consist of four OpenHydro turbines, 16 m diameter and rated at 2 MW each, a total of 8 MW. The turbines were assembled by DCNS in Cherbourg and installed by OpenHydro.[1] The first turbine was tested at sea for commissioning trials in August 2011.[10]
The first two turbines (of a planned four) were installed in January and May 2016, but did not get connected to the grid.[2] A 15 km long 8 MW DC export cable operating at ±5 kV was installed in 2012. To protect it from the strong currents, it is surrounded by articulated cast-iron pipe sections, with concrete mattresses added in some locations.[6]
The two turbines were retrieved from the seabed in 2017 for replacement of components that threatened the turbine's resistance to corrosion. These turbines were never redeployed as the project was cancelled.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sea tests begin for first unit of France's 8-MW Paimpol-Brehat tidal". HydroWorld. PennWell Corporation. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- ^ a b c "Paimpol-Brehat Tidal Demonstration Project". Tethys. 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
- ^ Moon, Stephen. "Paimpol-Bréhat demonstration site". TIGER: Tidal Stream Industry Energiser. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ "Venez tester votre projet sur le site d'essai européen de Paimpol-Bréhat. L'unique site pilote pour les hydroliennes en mer échelle 1". Test sites. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ Garanovic, Amir (2022-09-30). "Paimpol-Bréhat tidal energy test site gets subsea link upgrade". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ a b Lafon, Florence; Gérard, Nicolas; Vaissière, Nicolas; Furgerot, Lucille; Suel, Emmanuelle; Kiersnowski, Marlène (February 2021). Test Site Documentation (PDF) (Report). TIGER project. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ Tait, Carly (2021-10-05). "HydroQuest tidal turbine : End of tests on the EDF site in Paimpol Bréhat and new stages of development at the Raz Blanchard". TIGER: Tidal Stream Industry Energiser. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ "World's largest tidal array coasts closer to reality". BusinessGreen. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ^ "Paimpol-Brehat Tidal Farm". Power Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "EDF and OpenHydro to install first tidal turbine in Brittany, France". International Water Power. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
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