The aim of the ORCA project is to trial, at a pre-selected site at Paimpol Bréhat, a full-scale version of all the principal elements needed to create high-power tidal turbines. The project comprises the study, design, manufacture, installation, testing and maintenance of the equipment, as well as studies of environmental conditions.

Creating such a machine poses considerable technological challenges in terms of design, logistics, manufacture and installation, as well as non-technological obstacles that are only likely to arise with full-scale demonstration projects.

The stakes are extremely high, as success means the development of a wholly innovative form of marine renewable technology, capable of offering tidal farms with an energy output in excess of 100MW.
The ORCA project is recognised jointly by Pôle Mer Bretagne and the EMC2 and Tenerrdis technopoles.

Partners
Companies
  • - Alstom France, Nantes, Grenoble et Paimpol  [Project Developer]
  • - EDF, Paris et Paimpol Bréhat
  • - Nexans, Lyon
  • - Sector, Lyon et Paris
  • - Stat-marine, Nîmes et La Seyne-sur-Mer
  • - STX France Solutions, Nantes et Lorient
Research centers
  • - CETIM, Nantes
  • - ENSAM, Chambery
  • - Ifremer, Brest
  • - INP, Toulouse
  • - IUEM AMURE, Laboratoire "Aménagement des Usages des Ressources et des Ecosystemes marins et littoraux", Brest
  • - IUEM LEMAR, Laboratoire des sciences de l'Environnement MARin (LEMAR), Brest
  • - IUEM, Laboratoire Domaines Océaniques (LDO), Brest
Funders
- Ademe
- FEDER
Labelisation
19/01/2011
Overall budget
27 949 K€
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