Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm
| Company type | Demonstration site |
|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable energy, Tidal power |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Électricité de France (EdF) |
| Defunct | 2018 (EdF project discontinued) |
| Fate | Project discontinued by EdF; now a testing site |
| Headquarters | Paimpol , France |
Area served | Offshore near Île-de-Bréhat, Brittany, France |
| Products | Tidal stream turbines (demonstration and testing) |
| Owner | Électricité de France (EdF) |
The Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm functions as a demonstration site for tidal stream turbines, situated northeast of Île-de-Bréhat near Paimpol in Brittany, France. Originally initiated by Électricité de France (EdF) in 2004, with construction commencing in 2008, the initiative was discontinued by EdF in 2018. The project intended to utilize OpenHydro turbines, two of which were temporarily installed in 2016 but subsequently removed.
At present, the Paimpol–Bréhat site operates as a testing facility under EdF ownership, with management assistance from Seeneoh and Bretagne Ocean Power. In September 2022, enhancements were made to the 2 MW three-phase AC grid connection, allowing devices located above the water to be connected without requiring divers.
Located roughly 10 km offshore, the site spans an area of about 140 m by 250 m. Water depths vary between 26 m and 42 m below LAT, while the tidal amplitude reaches approximately 11.5 m. According to Telemac 2D simulations, depth-averaged current speeds during medium spring tides range from 2.1 to 2.8 m/s.
From April 2019 until December 2021, French company HydroQuest conducted tests at Paimpol–Bréhat using a 1 MW turbine named OceanQuest.
EdF OpenHydro project (2004–2018)
The development of the Paimpol–Bréhat tidal farm was undertaken by Électricité de France (EdF) starting in 2004, with ambitions to establish the largest tidal array globally and to pioneer the first tidal energy farm connected to the electrical grid.
A single 250 kW OpenHydro turbine known as L’Arcouest was trialed on location between December 2013 and April 2014; however, this unit was not intended for grid integration.
The initial plan involved deploying four OpenHydro turbines, each with a diameter of 16 m and a capacity of 2 MW, summing up to an overall output of 8 MW. These turbines were assembled by DCNS in Cherbourg and installed by OpenHydro. The first turbine underwent marine testing in August 2011.
Two turbines were installed during January and May of 2016 but were never connected to the power grid. An export cable rated at 8 MW and measuring 15 km in length with ±5 kV DC voltage was deployed in 2012; it was shielded by articulated cast-iron conduits and concrete mattresses designed to endure strong tidal currents.
In 2017, the turbines were removed for component replacement due to corrosion issues but were ultimately not redeployed as the entire project was cancelled.