Simec Atlantis Energy and the regional government of Normandy are to form a joint venture to develop tidal projects off northern France.
President of the Normandy region Hervé Morin said the venture to be named Normandie Hydrolienne would be created within weeks.
The new company will be majority owned by Simec Atlantis with a minority stake taken by Normandie Participations, the regional government’s seed capital outfit.
Morin said the creation of Normandie Hydrolienne would be a “first step” to develop tidal energy potential in the region.
“Atlantis, in connection with (regional development company) AD Normandie and Normandie Participations, is already exploring ways to collaborate with French energy companies as well as with Normandy industrialists in order to optimize the local spin-offs of the Normandie Hydrolienne project,” he added.
Simec Atlantis has been pursuing tidal opportunities in northern France for several years.
Earlier this year, the Edinburgh outfit submitted a strategic plan to the French government outlining how 1GW of tidal power could be installed off Normandy by 2025 and 2GW by 2027.
Source:renews
