This first experimental turbine prototype, measuring 3 metres in diameter, was successfully tested for a full year in Bénodet (Brittany, France).

SABELLA is now developing the first in a new industrial series. Through the "Sabella D10" project, selected by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency ADEME for public funding under the “INVESTISSEMENTS D’AVENIR” initiative (€3.6M), this full-scale turbine will be installed in Fromveur Passage near to South Ushant (Brittany) in winter 2013/2014.

A 10-strong team invested in Project D10

In 2013, some ten engineers from SABELLA and its shareholder companies worked together, at the Western tip of Brittany, to develop Project “D10”. Their work focused on site characterisation, turbine engineering, the electricity production chain, installation processes, connection to Ushant Island’s electricity grid, as well as environmental monitoring and social acceptance aspects.

Their passion for innovation in harnessing marine energy drives the team in this industrial adventure and encourages their investment in the project’s success.

A portfolio of granted patents

Thanks to its pioneering experience and its optimisation efforts on these technologies, SABELLA is at the heart of innovation, and strives to capitalise on its progress to strengthen its technology.

To reinforce and maintain its strategic competitive edge, SABELLA consolidates a patent portfolio covering performance drivers which will ensure a privileged market position and will enable the firm to more effectively promote its solutions among energy providers.

The intellectual property rights granted focus on marine and river technologies, in their application or improvement.

Authorisation granted to install “D10” turbine in Fromveur Passage

Thanks to its wide-reaching communication and consultation strategy among French administrations, sea users, island inhabitants and the general public, SABELLA’s demonstration project on Ushant has been greeted with excellent acceptance, or even approval.

An Environmental Impact Study supported the administrative authorisation requests for the installation of the “D10” turbine in the Fromveur Passage (Ushant). Following examination of this application, temporary occupation authorisation was granted in November 2011. The inhabitants of Ushant are now awaiting “their” turbine, to be installed on their doorstep.

Significant support from "INVESTISSEMENTS D'AVENIR"

Among the 21 projects submitted in October 2009 in response to the “Marine Energy Demonstrators” call for expressions of interest (CEI), SABELLA was one of 5 projects selected for public funding by INVESTISSEMENTS D'AVENIR, managed by ADEME. This €10M project was thus granted €3.6M public funding (subsidy and loan) by French Prime Minister François Fillon in December 2010.