The European Commission has approved a French project promoting electricity generation from tidal energy, which was found to be in line with EU State aid rules, while it is expected to contribute further the EU’s energy and climate goals without distorting competition in the Single Market.
The Normandie Hydro plant, a demonstration plant for producing electricity from tidal energy, will be developed by OpenHydro and operated by EDF EN and will be located at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula, on the English Channel.
The demonstration plant will comprise seven turbines with a power generation capacity of 14 megawatts to be installed on the sea floor.
France intends to support the development and operation of the plant, under its 2020 renewable energy target. The objective of the public support is to test this novel technology and verify the potential for tidal energy in France before deploying it on a larger scale.
The demonstration plant will receive operating aid and investment aid. Part of the investment aid will be paid in the form of repayable advances that will be reimbursed if the technology is successful.
The Commission assessed the scheme under its 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy, which allow Member States to support renewable energy, subject to certain conditions.
The Commission found that the project promotes market penetration of a novel renewable energy technology and that the level of aid is proportionate and will not lead to overcompensation, in line with the Guidelines. Therefore the Commission concluded that the project will promote the use of electricity generated from renewable sources, in accordance with the objectives of the European Energy Union, without unduly distorting competition.
The Renewable Energy Directive established targets for all Member States’ shares of renewable energy sources by 2020. For France that target is 23% of domestic energy supplies produced from renewable sources by 2020.
Tidal energy is one of the technologies that can contribute in the transition towards a climate friendly energy supply in Europe. The French project approved today will help showcase tidal energy technology, while limiting distortions of competition,
…said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy.
