Overview:

In an electricity market geared towards greater interconnectivity, supply security requires maximum local energy autonomy. Certain remote coastal regions are today very energetically dependent on their neighbouring countries. The balancing of the national network and the involvement of local authorities pushes these regions to integrate end-of-grid production infrastructures.

Electricity production at locations too distant from consumption sites results in major line losses along the electricity transport network. In an open electricity market, this could locally lead to higher energy access costs, and to a potential drop in competitiveness for these regions.

Our analysis:

In the case of Brittany, this region only produces 8% of its consumption and is supplied by Normandy (Flamanville) and Pays de la Loire (Cordemais). Every winter in France, when consumption peaks are reached, the risk of network collapse can lead to programmed power cuts in these overly dependent regions.

Our solutions:

In this example, improved energy access in Brittany presupposes the addition of end-of-grid production infrastructures: in Western Brittany, this scenario is promoted by local authorities.

Brittany’s historical resistance to nuclear energy has given rise to alternative solutions. The conjunction of remarkable marine hydrokinetics at the tip of Brittany spurs local stakeholders to prioritise tidal energy developments in passages such as Raz de Sein and Fromveur.

The region of Brittany is perfectly aware of its vulnerability and therefore of the need for and importance of tidal energy. In this respect, it has long supported SABELLA’s Quimper-based technology. SABELLA consolidates knowledge of these sites and is working on public acceptance and installation authorisations.