ELEMENT gears up for tidal turbine testing in France

EU-backed ELEMENT project, dedicated to developing a tidal energy control system that will reduce the cost of tidal energy, is set to deploy a turbine for testing in Brittany, France, this autumn, following the onshore testing.

The project, led by Scottish tidal technology company Nova Innovation, aims to develop an innovative control system for tidal turbines to enhance lifetime viability and productivity.

As part of the project, the turbine has undergone onshore testing and is now progressing to estuary testing in Etel, Brittany, France, and then offshore at the Shetland Tidal Array in Scotland.

Ahead of the trials in the Etel estuary, Innosea, the engineering, advisory and R&D specialists in marine renewable energy, has provided independent design engineering services for the gravity-based foundation.

According to the company, this scope of work has already been completed with a 50kW prototype turbine set to be deployed for testing this autumn.

Innosea’s scope of work also includes a socio-economic analysis of tidal energy potential in France.

“We are really proud to be part of the ELEMENT project consortium. This project strikes at the roots of Innosea, as we were originally established with a focus on tidal and wave energy, as well as offshore wind”, says Maria Ikhennicheu, R&D engineer at Innosea.

Innosea is one of the 11 project partners within the Nova Innovation-led consortium, which includes IDETA, Chantier Bretagne Sud, Wood, Nortek AS, The University of Strathclyde, DNV GL UK, France Energies Marines, Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and ABB UK.

The ELEMENT project started in 2019 and will be concluded towards mid-2023.

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