Alderney Renewable Energy (ARE) and Tidal technology company OpenHydro, a DCNS company, have signed a joint venture which will see the two companies combine their expertise and resources to develop a 300MW tidal array in Alderney waters. The joint venture company is called Race Tidal Ltd.
Once completed, the array developed by ARE and Openhydro is expected to consist of 150 turbines (2.0MW each) which will produce enough power for over 150,000 homes.
ARE has a long established relationship with OpenHydro (OpenHydro holds a 39 per cent shareholding in ARE) with both companies bringing their complementary expertise to this project. In 2008, ARE secured a 65 year license from the States of Alderney permitting ARE to develop marine renewable energy projects in Alderney’s waters. OpenHydro will provide the turbines which will be manufactured in Cherbourg (France) in an industrial site which will also support future tidal energy farms off the French coast.
Over the next three years, the partners will be working closely with The States of Alderney, the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy, local communities and stakeholders to complete the required surveys and environmental impact assessments prior to making an application for full consent. The 300MW tidal array is expected to be deployed from 2020 which will coincide with the commissioning of the FAB interconnector.