Inyanga Marine Energy takes charge of France’s first grid-connected tidal turbine

Inyanga Marine Energy Group has taken control of the D10 tidal turbine, the first grid-connected tidal turbine in France, securing permission to operate the facility in the Fromveur Passage, off the coast of Brittany, until August 2028. 

The turbine, which delivers clean energy to the island of Ushant, was initially deployed in 2015 by Sabella, a French company that went into liquidation in January 2024. Since 2016, Inyanga Marine, headquartered in the UK with an office in Brittany, has been managing offshore operations at the D10 site.

According to Inyanga Marine Energy, the turbine, which sits 55 meters below the surface and stands 17 meters tall with a 10-meter diameter, can deliver up to 250 kW of electricity to the local grid. Since its last deployment in early 2022, it has been continuously operated by Inyanga, which has also been involved in efficiency upgrades and environmental validations.

“All permitting for the D10 turbine has now been renewed. We really appreciate the great support our company received from the Brittany Region and the French Administration. We have a shared vision for the development of renewable tidal energy,” said Diane Dhomé, Project Manager from Inyanga Marine Energy Group.

Following Sabella’s bankruptcy, Inyanga Marine Energy noted that it had concluded the court process to take over the turbine’s operations. 

“We have been heavily involved in the offshore operations on the D10 for several years and we were saddened by the bankruptcy of Sabella. We are pleased that our takeover of the D10 tidal turbine has now been concluded by the courts and the new deeds are now being drawn up. The future is safeguarded for this iconic tidal turbine, which has enjoyed tremendous support from the local community,” said Richard Parkinson, CEO of Inyanga Marine Energy Group.

The Fromveur Passage, recognized for its strong tidal currents, offers a prime location for tidal energy, with the D10 continuing to prove its value in sustainable energy generation, the UK-based company added.

In June, Inyanga Marine Energy and Verdant Morlais (VML) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deliver a 4.9 MW tidal stream energy project at Morlais in Wales.

In September, the UK-based tidal developer also completed hydrodynamic testing of the passive pitch unit for the patented and scalable HydroWing solution, designed for cost-effective tidal stream energy generation.