Marine renewable energies

With its 2,263 km of coastline  subject to powerful currents and regular winds, Finistère is an ideal location for innovation in marine renewable energy (MRE). It is no coincidence that Brest has become the home port for numerous emerging start-ups in this sector. These include Sabella and its tidal turbines, Eolink and its floating wind turbine concept and Quiet Oceans, which measures the environmental impact of offshore wind farms.

Brest métropole therefore made the decision to transform its commercial port with the construction of a huge polder to accommodate an MRE terminal. Heavyweights from the sector, such as Spanish company Navantia, were quick to make the most of the opportunities on offer.

It is also no accident that Brest is home to one of seven institutes for energy transition in France, with the headquarters of the offshore renewable energy body France Énergies Marines. Here a multidisciplinary team of 80 staff seeks to promote and contribute to R&D in the sector.

This dynamic development is also supported by respected academic institutions, such as ENSTA Bretagne engineering school which provides specific courses in marine energy. Then there is the University of Brest and the French Institute for Ocean Science (Ifremer), which has a deep water wave tank and an offshore test site in the Bay of Brest. Finally, the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (Shom) provides support to the sector in a variety of ways, from mapping the sites for the new systems to exploring ways to optimise them and measuring their impact on the marine environment.

Photo: Eolink