French turbine builder makes comeback with Togo delivery

Following the acquisition by the Acti Group, the French start-up Guinard Energies Nouvelles has delivered a tidal turbine in Togo.

The tidal turbine Poseide 66 on the Mono River is a key part of the autonomous electricity network deployed in this remote area of the power grid with the German company Reusch Energietechnick.

At the beginning of 2020, Reusch Energietechnick, contacted Guinard Energies Nouvelles to take part of a renewable and decentralised electricity production project in Togo.

Led by the consortium CIREG (Climate Information for Integrated Renewable Electricity Generation), the project aims to deploy a semi-mobile container, repositionable in a few hours, integrating a hybrid power plant composed of a hydrokinetic turbine, a photovoltaic set and also a battery bank.

After visiting different villages along the Mono River, Gbandidi in Agbétiko canton was both the match between its energy potential and the needs of its inhabitants.

The production unit composes a floating Poseide 66 hydrokinetic turbine positioned on the river by a swerve arm, a hybrid converter, a 7 kWp photovoltaic set and a 30 kWh battery bank.

The inhabitants will use the energy for daily needs such as powering refrigerators, freezers, electric devices or charging mobile phones.

After commissioning the first hybrid unit of Madagascar in September 2018, various projects followed including French Guiana in 2019.

“This new order confirms the growing interest in Hydrokinetic turbines as part of rural electrification solutions,” the company said.

The P66 hydrokinetic turbine, the floating and mooring system with the electrical converter first went to Germany to the headquarters of Reusch Energietechnick.

Since its acquisition by Acti Group a few months ago, the financially troubled Guinard Energies resumed the development of its business: new energies.

The Brest-based firm specialises in the construction of small and medium-sized turbines.