The ceremony for laying the first stone for Naval Energies/OpenHydro tidal turbine plant took place in Cherbourg this month.

The construction of this plant is a world first, embodying the start of the industrial phase, and represents a decisive step in the development of tidal energy in France and around the world.

With a production capacity of 25 turbines per year, the future plant should ensure the assembly and maintenance of the tidal turbines for the Normandie Hydro project, led by Naval Energies and its subsidiary OpenHydro in partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles, followed by commercial arrays. It will also serve as an industrial base for other pre-commercial projects developed by the Group around the world. Start of production is foreseen for the first quarter of 2018.

Approximately forty persons will work in the plant on turbine assembly. The plant has been designed to be modular and could be extended to increase its production capacity in view of future commercial farms.