OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

104
FRANCE
Georgina Grenon 1 and Yann Herve De Roeck 2
1
Ministère du Développement Durable, 2 France Energies Marines
With thanks to France Energies Marines, ADEME and French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.
INTRODUCTION
The development of marine renewable technologies is firmly on France’s energy agenda as it strives to
diversify its energy profile by developing sustainable long-term industries to bolster energy security. At
present, France is reliant on nuclear energy for meeting approximately 75 per cent of its electricity needs.
Ocean energy is one of a number of priority sectors identified as being important for France’s transition to
a low-carbon future.
With extensive tidal and wave resource concentrated on France’s north-western coastline and resource
opportunities in France’s overseas territories, the Government is committed to developing its marine
renewables industry. In recent years, France has taken great strides towards coordinating its research
and development (R&D) on marine renewable technologies, supporting collaborative initiatives between
government and industry. With a strong maritime history, the development of France’s ocean energy sector
is expected to provide opportunities for diversifying existing expertise and for developing complementary
industries. Like for other countries, technology bankability and cost reduction are key priorities for the
Government, as well as ensuring that supply chain components required to bring the technologies to
commercial fruition are in place. A number of initiatives have been initiated since 2005 with tidal and
floating wind projects receiving grants from state and regional agencies. Since 2008, France has focussed
attention on a range of initiatives designed to progress ocean technologies towards array configurations.
In particular, a call for marine demonstration projects was launched in 2009 by ADEME as part of France’s
economic stimulus program (Investissements d’Avenir). Among the 5 laureates, two tidal energy projects
(Sabella D10 and ORCA) and one wave energy project (S3) had been selected and are currently in progress.
The two other laureates are floating wind projects (Winflo and Vertiwind).
The year 2012 saw the confirmation of this trend, with several important actions being kicked off:
ÌÌ
In March, the establishment of the State-backed France Energies Marines (FEM) provided an indication
of the Government’s commitment to bolstering French competitiveness in the marine renewables industry
(see separate section)
ÌÌ
In April, the Ministry in charge of Energy launched a series of studies expected to define the medium and
long term strategy for Tidal Energy :
- A Request for Information was launched by the French Administration on different aspects of tidal
technologies
- RTE (the national transmission grid operator) was commissioned to study the necessary grid
connections for tidal energy farms off the Cotentin Peninsula and Brittany coasts
- The government technical centre of marine expertise was requested to perform a series of analysis
and models to better define the exploitable resource under different conditions
ÌÌ
A national consultation on France’s energy future was launched in September 2012 with the release of
a Roadmap for Energy Transition 1 (feuille de route pour la transition énergétique) which outlines the case
for embracing low emission sources of energy. Among the priority projects listed in this first roadmap is an
initiative (call) for the construction of pre-commercial tidal demonstration projects, due to be announced in
early 2013 by ADEME, the Agency for Environment and Energy Management
ÌÌ
In November 2012 the new Government also announced an initiative to develop a strategic plan for
marine energy. 2 The results of this study are expected in early 2013
ÌÌ
Announcement of the award of NER300 call, that includes the project for a 26MW floating wind farm off
the Mediterranean costs in France (Vertimed)
1
Ministére de L’Écologie, du Développement durable et de L’Énergie (Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy)
Feuille de route pour la transition Ecologique (Roadmap for Ecological Transition), Sep. 2012,
http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Feuille_de_Route_pour_la_Transition_Ecologique.pdf.
ANNUAL
REPORT 2012