Normandie Hydroliennes launches crowdfunding for Raz Blanchard pilot tidal farm

Tidal energy developer Normandie Hydroliennes has initiated a crowdfunding campaign on the WiSEED platform to support the development of its 12 MW tidal turbine pilot farm in the Raz Blanchard, located near Cherbourg, France. 

Scheduled for commissioning in 2028, the project marks an important milestone in advancing France’s tidal energy ambitions, according to Proteus Marine Renewables (PMR).

The pilot farm will deploy four AR3000 tidal turbines, each with a capacity of 3 MW, designed by PMR. These turbines will be manufactured in Cherbourg by EFINOR, emphasizing the project’s focus on strengthening the local economy through regional expertise and industrial activity.

Built in France, the PMR AR3000 turbine is the largest and “most powerful single-axis turbine ever produced”, according to Normandie Hydroliennes. The fully submerged subsea turbines will cause no visual impact and be installed in harmony with the natural environment, the company noted.

The project was initiated by ENGIE, with the support of the turbine manufacturer PMR, the regional fund Normandie Participations, and the industrial group EFINOR which will build the tidal turbines in its workshops in Cherbourg

“This innovative project not only supports renewable energy but also strengthens the local economy by leveraging regional expertise, and we are very excited to be part of it,” Proteus Marine Renewables stated.

The Raz Blanchard site, a strait that runs between Alderney and Cap de la Hague, is one of the most energetic tidal stream sites in the world, with a potential for extraction of 3 GW of energy, out of the 3.5 GW of total potential available in France.

Just recently, Normandie Hydroliennes and HydroQuest secured €51 million in Innovation Fund grants to advance two tidal energy projects in France’s Raz Blanchard.