EDF to develop pilot tidal power project
The pilot scheme, which EDF said is a world first, would be linked to the grid off the city of Paimpol, and have a total capacity of between 4 and 6 megawatts by 2011.
EDF - Europe's biggest nuclear power producer with 58 reactors in France that have a total nuclear generation capacity of more than 60,000 megawatts - declined to give financial details on the tidal power project.
Energy from tidal currents, which emits no greenhouse gases and has the advantage of being predictable, could become a key source of renewable energy, it said in a statement.
"In the long term this new source of energy could make a significant contribution to the production of electricity from renewable sources, in particular in the United Kingdom and France," EDF said in a statement.
EDF said that France alone had 80 percent of the potential for generating electricity from tidal currents in Europe, which it estimated at 10 million megawatt-hour per year.
Utilities and oil majors across Europe are seeking seek to develop cleaner energy sources as part of a drive by the European Union moves to cut carbon dioxide emissions by one fifth by 2020, compared to 1990 levels.
Related News

Manitoba Government Extends Pause on New Cryptocurrency Connections
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has temporarily suspended approving new electricity service connections for cryptocurrency mining operations. The decision comes as the province grapples with the cryptocurrency industry's growing energy demands and potential impact on electricity rates for residents and businesses.
The Original Pause
The pause was initially imposed in November 2022 due to concerns that the rapid influx of cryptocurrency mining operations could place significant strain on the province's electrical grid. Manitoba Hydro, the province's primary electric utility, warned that unregulated expansion of the industry could necessitate billions of dollars in infrastructure investments, potentially driving up electricity…