| 
.jpg)
HydroQuest and the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) recently inaugurated a tidal turbine development facility. The laboratory, VERTI-Lab, was established to offer specialised analytical tools and provide play a part in the design of tidal energy systems. The laboratory, VERTI-Lab, was established to offer specialised analytical tools as well as play a part in the design of tidal energy systems.
"This collaborative laboratory, the first in Ifremer with an industry player, will enable us to create and manage commercial tidal farms. "Experimental data will be used to validate numerical developments and the design of new generations of tidal turbines," explained Gregory Germain, a researcher at the Ifremer Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory.
This initiative is a result of the firms' association, which began in 2015.
"Hydroquest welcomes this 4-year programme in partnership with Ifremer," stated William Maurice, R&D Engineer at HydroQuest. "After the success of our Oceanquest offshore demonstration project, this collaboration will allow us to significantly improve the performance of our technology." The first breakthroughs may thus be achieved on our Flowatt project, the world's future most powerful tidal turbine pilot farm, located at Raz-Blanchard and sponsored by the Ministry of Energy Transition as part of France's 2030 strategy."
Ifremer and HydroQuest strive to expand their expertise in hydrodynamics, in particular locations with significant tidal potential. The skill set was derived via testing conducted in the wave and current basins of the Ifremer Manche North Sea Centre in Boulogne-sur-Mer, as well as at the Sainte-Anne du Portzic marine testing site.
Last year French President Emmanuel Macron proposed commercial bids for tidal streams as part of the French energy policy update (PPE). The French government announced its intention to provide at least €65 million in funding and targeted revenue support for the pioneering FloWatt tidal energy farm, to promote the commercialization of the energy sector. It is estimated that it will start operations in 2026 and supply power to 20,000 people for the next 20 years.
Read more here- https://www.offshore-energy.biz/frances-new-lab-for-tidal-turbine-development-opens-its-doors/
