Inyanga Marine Energy has announced it is taking over France’s first grid-connected marine turbine after its original operator went bust earlier this year.
The company says it has secured the permissions to operate the D10 tidal turbine until August 2028.
The D10 is located in the Fromveur Passage, off the coast of Brittany, and provides clean, sustainable energy to the remote island of Ushant. It was initially deployed in 2015.
French company Sabella previously owned the D10, but it went into liquidation in January 2024
Inyanga is headquartered in Falmouth, in the UK, and has an office in Brittany; its team has manage all offshore operations of the D10 site since 2016.
Diane Dhomé of Inyanga Marine Energy Group, said: “All permitting for the D10 turbine has now been renewed. We really appreciate the great support our company received from the Brittany Region and the French Administration. We have a shared vision for the development of renewable tidal energy.”
Since its launch in 2015, the D10 tidal turbine has undergone various efficiency improvements and the technology has been validated as well as proven to have no negative impact on the local marine environment.
Laid on the seabed at a depth of 55 metres, the machine is 17 metres high and 10 metres in diameter and can deliver up to 250kW of clean electricity to Ushant island grid.
It has been operating continuously since its last deployment, managed by Inyanga, in early 2022.
Richard Parkinson, chief executive of Inyanga Marine Energy Group, added: “We have been heavily involved in the offshore operations on the D10 for several years and we were saddened by the bankruptcy of Sabella.
“We are pleased that our takeover of the D10 tidal turbine has now been concluded by the courts and the new deeds are now being drawn up. The future is safeguarded for this iconic tidal turbine, which has enjoyed tremendous support from the local community.
“It is another exciting milestone for Inyanga Marine Energy Group as we move towards our ambition of being the world leader in tidal energy.”
The Fromveur Passage (also known as St Vincent’s Channel) has the second strongest tidal current in France and is notorious amongst sailors for its violent currents.
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