Top news, July 23 – 29, 2018

MarineEnergy.biz has compiled the top news from marine energy industry from July 23 – 29, 2018.

Tides wash away OpenHydro

French-based Naval Energies – the parent company of tidal stream technology outfit OpenHydro – has decided to stop further investments into development of its tidal energy business, forcing the liquidation of the Irish-based subsidiary.

According to Irish media reports, Naval Energies requested the liquidation of OpenHydro and its associated businesses as the subsidiary has reportedly accumulated significant debts over the time, with the alleged figures reaching up to €280 million.

The decision to cease any additional investments was reinforced, according to Naval Energies, with ‘the lack of commercial prospects’ for tidal stream project development.

Three-bladed turbine positions for French tidal stream spinback

In the fallout of the OpenHydro liquidation, the Chief Executive Officer of another tidal stream technology company Tim Cornelius said that SIMEC Atlantis Energy would be willing to engage in discussions with the French government to save the recently built Cherbourg tidal assembly plant, and deliver the EU-sanctioned Normandie Hydro tidal project within existing support mechanisms.

Reacting to Naval Energies’ decision to liquidate its tidal technology subsidiary OpenHydro, Tim Cornelius hinted SIMEC Atlantis Energy was prepared to act as a replacement for the liquidated outfit should the UK-based developer make progress with the French government on the development of large scale arrays in Normandy and Brittany.

In-stream tidal giant connects to Nova Scotia power grid

Two days after touching the Canadian seabed in the Bay of Fundy – the 2MW tidal turbine, deployed by Cape Sharp Tidal, has been connected to the Nova Scotia electricity grid.

The turbine, plugged into the grid on July 24, 2018, is now undergoing initial commissioning in Minas Passage, at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) site, with operational and environmental monitoring device testing being conducted by the OpenHydro team.

This is the second grid-connected tidal turbine to be deployed in the bay by Cape Sharp Tidal after the similar feat was achieved with the first demonstration turbine in November 2016.

MeyGen tidal turbines come ashore

SIMEC Atlantis Energy has retrieved two MeyGen tidal power turbines for inspection and maintenance.

The retrieval operation took place at an offshore site between Scotland’s northernmost coast and the island of Stroma with the support of Viking Neptun subsea construction vessel, and the ROV crew onboard. Both turbines were retrieved in ‘just over 24 hours’, according to SIMEC Atlantis, which also said the turbines made it safely back to shore for offload at Nigg Energy Park.

The turbines – supplied by Andritz Hydro Hammerfest (AHH) – will now be inspected onshore.

EU nods ‘yes’ for Raz Blanchard tidal energy demonstration

The European Commission has found a French project promoting electricity generation from tidal energy – a 14MW Normandie Hydro array – to be in line with European Union State aid rules.

The measure will contribute further the EU’s energy and climate goals without unduly distorting competition in the single market, the Commission declared.

The Normandie Hydro plant is a demonstration plant that will be developed by OpenHydro and operated by EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) and will be located at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula, on the English Channel.

However – OpenHydro is now up for liquidation after its parent company Naval Energies declared it was no longer interested in making further investments into tidal energy sector.

Following the announcement – deemed by many as a ‘schocker’ – SIMEC Atlantis Energy hinted it was interested in acting as a replacement company in the Normandie Hydro scheme, as well as other developments OpenHydro was involved in – should the French government also express its willingness to support the initiative appropriately.