TIDAL FUTURE

The world’s first subsea offshore tidal array, known as the Paimpol-Bréhat Tidal Array developed by EDF, will soon be ready for operation. The second turbine will soon be deployed onto the seabed and join the first turbine already in place together with GE Power Conversion’s subsea converter. Once completed, the Paimpol-Bréhat Tidal Array is expected to reach a total capacity of 1 MW of power.  The array uses a subsea converter system, supplied by GE Power Conversion, to control the turbine and convert the electricity from AC to high-voltage DC, minimizing the energy loss when the power is transmitted 16 km back to shore. It is then converted back to AC by GE’s drive at the onshore facility before being delivered to the grid. While prices for fossil fuels such as oil are currently low, the volatility and insecurity of the price remains a risk factor for plant operators and end users alike, making management and long-term planning difficult. Moreover, in a bid to reduce greenhouse emissions, there is a pressing need to move away from reliance on fossil fuels towards a wider energy mix. Although 1 MW at Paimpol-Bréhat presents a moderate amount of power, the project sets an incredible precedent for future tidal plants, leading the way towards further offshore arrays, and taking us one step closer to a future of cleaner, greener power generation. Across the channel in the U.K., there are a number of tidal development projects being considered. One of the most notable projects, the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, would be set in the Severn Estuary. The selected location holds the second highest tidal range in the world. Once production starts, it is anticipated that it would reliably generate enough power for approximately 155,000 homes every year for 120 years.