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Underwater turbines may help France produce energy for millions of people
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After receiving nearly $34 million in funding from the European Union, the NH1 Tidal Project, will be built off the coast of Normandy
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where the ocean current is among the strongest in the world. This initiative will begin with a pilot farm comprised of four underwater turbines
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which harness the flow of the sea to generate electricity, producing 34 gigawatt hours annually, enough to beat the needs of 15,000 people
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But there are plans to eventually add more turbines, increasing that power output to as much as 18 terawatt hours, supplying energy for 8 million people
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As a result of this endeavor, nearly 58,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be avoided
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equivalent to taking more than 13.5,000 gas-powered cars off the road for a year
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However, concerns still remain about the project's environmental impact, with some conservationists saying marine ecosystems could be disrupted
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Developers are pushing back against these claims, saying NH1 turbines installed around 125 feet deep
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have been designed to operate with minimal impact on surrounding wildlife. They also point to a similar tidal farm off the coast of Scotland, where marine life reportedly adapted to these structures
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even using them as new habitat spaces. The NH1 project is set to start producing electricity by 2028, and future additions to this tidal farm will see 85 new turbines deployed annually
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Almer
