Release
Tidal turbine BELUGA 9, with a capacity of 1 MW and designed in Alstom Hydro’s new
Alstom, a world leader in the supply of equipment and services for electricity generation, today inaugurated the new premises of Alstom Hydro’s Ocean Energy activities in
Created in 2009 when Alstom signed a technology-licensing contract with Canadian company Clean Current, Alstom’s Ocean Energy Business will benefit from the skills of the Alstom group, a world leader in hydroelectric dam equipment, accounting for 25% of global installed hydropower capacity. The worldwide capacity of the group’s wind turbines, either installed or currently under construction, exceeds 2,685 megawatts (MW).
Philippe Cochet, Senior Vice President, Alstom Hydro and Wind, points out: “There is a considerable potential market for tidal energy, estimated between 50 and 100 gigawatts (GW) worldwide, of which France and the United Kingdom account for 10%. Tidal energy has some unique advantages. It is, for example, possible to predict the amount of energy that will be produced with complete accuracy, and tidal turbine generators are completely invisible once they are submerged. We are now entering an industrialization and testing phase that will enable us to respond with a reliable solution as soon as the first calls for tenders appear.”
Alstom’s Ocean Energy activities will be located on the
BELUGA 9, intended for very powerful currents (up to 4.5 meters per second, or 9 knots, on the surface during spring tides) will be Alstom’s first tidal turbine generator. Once mounted, it will have a diameter of 13 meters and a total height of 20 meters, the equivalent of a six-storey building. It will be suited to sites at depths of 30 meters or more, such as in the
In addition, the
Mr Gilson says: “Our global launching-ground for ocean energy had to be in an area where there was a concentration of skills in marine activities, and that could serve
If all suitable underwater locations were equipped with tidal generators, it would be possible to generate 100 TWh of electricity annually: enough to supply power to 20 million households in
Alstom develops its strategy around three pillars (CO2-free offering, efficiency and CCS). Over recent years Alstom has increasingly invested in carbon-free energy technologies and portfolio-wide solutions for meeting its customers’ energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner. Since no single solution exists, several approaches have to be considered, and Alstom continues to enlarge its energy portfolio with an extensive offer in the fast-growing renewable energy market accounting activities in Hydropower, Tidal, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass and Concentrated Solar Power.
Alstom Hydro’s Ocean Energy premises are at 11, rue Arthur III – 44200
* This project is receiving financial support from the governmental agency Sustainable Development Technology
About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 96,500 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over €23 billion* in 2009/10.
*Pro forma figures
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