Sabella’s D10 tidal turbine has produced first kilowatt hours of power for the Ushant island’s electricity grid.
The turbine started delivering power to Ushant island on November 5, 2015. It is producing limited amounts of power that will gradually increase over time in order to avoid the risks of damaging the grid.
For now, the turbine electricity generation is limited to 50 kW, but it will soon be ramped up to 100 kW, Sabella’s press release reads.
The French tidal energy developer Sabella deployed its 1 MW D10 tidal turbine in June this year in Fromveur Passage, off Ushant island, France.
The cable connection operation of the turbine with the island was completed in September, after which the turbine started producing power without being connected to the grid.
Sabella used the time to perform tests, while the ERDF technicians prepared the Ushant island’s grid to receive the electricity produced by the turbine.
The cost of the project is estimated to be between €13-14 million in total, and the power produced from the turbine will cover around 15% of the Ushant island’s electricity consumption needs, thereby replacing 300,000 liters of oil fuel of the 2 million liters annually consumed by the Ushant island’s residents.
Sabella plans to keep D10 tidal turbine submerged for one year to perform tests, without the installation of additional turbines.
The company announced another tidal energy project planned for France. It will comprise the deployment of two to three D15 tidal turbines. The turbines are 15 m in diameter, and have the maximum power output of 2 MW each.
The project to be developed in partnership with Engie, is planned for 2018/2019, and will be located in Fromveur Passage.
[mappress mapid=”700″]
Image: Sabella