France green-lights Normandie Hydro tidal pilot

The prefecture of Manche in the French region of Normandy has officially authorized the construction of a pilot tidal farm in Raz Blanchard, off France.

The approval, granted on April 3, 2017, will see DCNS Energies and EDF Energies Nouvelles install an array of seven tidal turbines with the total capacity of 14MW.

The tidal farm will be installed at the site located 3,5 km from Goury, at the water depth of around 30 meters.

The Normandie Hydro project will cost approximately €112 million, out of which €50 million will be subsidized, according to Le Télégramme.

To remind, late in 2014, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) selected DCNS and EDF Energies Nouvelles to develop a pilot tidal farm following the expressions of interest process.

The project is expected to be operational in 2019.