The company said that three to six turbines with a total capacity of between 4MW and 6MW, will be installed and linked to the grid off Paimpol in the department of Cotes d’Armor by 2011. The sea currents in this region are reportedly amongst the strongest in Europe.
EDF noted that this pilot project is the culmination of more than four years of consultation and preparatory work along the coasts of Brittany and Normandy. The choice of the Paimpol-Brehat site was based on technical and financial criteria.
This pilot scheme will reportedly enable the technology to be tested under real conditions, allowing for the assessment of its profitability. This project is also expected to allow for an administrative and legal framework for the development of a French network to be drawn up.
