Delphine Batho, France’s Minister of Ecology has outlined the first concrete steps to accelerate the development of marine energy in the country.
This will include supporting industry efforts involved in the development of new marine energy technologies and a call for expressions of interest in research demonstrators to push through tidal, wave, floating wind and ocean thermal energy projects.
Ms Batho added that the Maritime Prefecture of Cherbourg will also initiate a "broad consultation involving all stakeholders", along with planning work to identify areas where pilot turbines could be installed in the Raz Blanchard, taking advantage of the strong currents moving between the western tip of the Cap de la Hague and the Channel Island of Alderney.
These pilot farms would join an ongoing effort by French renewable energy company DCNS and the Irish firm OpenHydro which has already started work on four marine current turbines in the Raz Blanchard for EDF.
Ms Batho also noted that a report due out on 15 March will push for quick decisions to support pilot farm turbines, including implementation of a feed-in tariff for electricity produced by the pilot farms.
