How does La Rance tidal power plant work?
When the tide is coming in, the water on the sea side of the barrage is higher than the estuary side; therefore water will flow from the sea side through the turbine into the estuary. As such, the turbines that were installed in the Rance Power Station have the capability to produce power in either direction.
How much did La Rance cost?
La Rance tidal power station, France La Rance cost $115m and the time of construction, which adjusted for inflation is $918m in 2019 and has a capacity of 240MW.
Where is La Rance located?
Brittany, France
The La Rance Tidal Power Station is the world’s first tidal power station and also the world’s second biggest tidal power station. The facility is located on the estuary of the Rance River, in Brittany, France.
How does the Rance Tidal Power Station generate so much electricity?
The tidal power plant at the Rance River estuary in Brittany, France, uses a barrage. It was built in 1966 and is still functioning. The plant uses two sources of energy: tidal energy from the English Channel and river current energy from the Rance River.
Does France use tidal energy?
The Rance Tidal Power Station is a tidal power station located on the estuary of the Rance River in Brittany, France. At an annual output of approximately 500 GWh (491 GWh in 2009, 523 GWh in 2010), it supplies 0.12% of the power demand of France. The power density is of the order of 2.6 W/m2.
What can a tidal barrage do?
Instead of damming water on one side like a conventional dam, a tidal barrage allows water to flow into a bay or river during high tide, and releases the water during low tide. Turbines are placed at these sluices to capture the energy as the water flows in and out.
Is tidal energy cheap?
Similar to wind power, tidal power has a long life span and a relatively low cost of operation and no fuel costs. With only seven main tidal plants operating in the world as of 2011, with one plant in the UK, clear capital costs are unknown.
How many homes in France are powered by tides?
France first embraced tidal in 1966 when it opened the Rance Tidal Power Station. Today, Rance continues to generate 600 GWh a year, powering 130,000 homes.
What is a tidal fence?
A Tidal Fence is another form of tidal stream technology, which directly exploits fast flowing underwater ocean currents for energy generation. Tidal fences are used in fast flowing areas such as the channels between two land masses where it directs the sea water to the turbines when it passes through the fence.
Is tidal energy expensive?
Tidal turbines are more expensive to build than wind turbines but can capture more energy with the same size blades.
Where is the La Rance tidal power station?
The La Rance Tidal Power Station is the world’s first tidal power station and also the world’s second biggest tidal power station. The facility is located on the estuary of the Rance River, in Brittany, France.
Where is the tidal power station in France?
Aerial photograph of the Rance Tidal Power Station. Location of Rance Tidal Power Station in France. The Rance Tidal Power Station is a tidal power station located on the estuary of the Rance River in Brittany, France.
How much energy has the Rance barrage produced?
Since its construction, the plant has produced approximately 27,600GWh of electricity, equivalent to around £3.3bn at today’s prices. “Rance being the first barrage of its kind, I think it proves the arguments for tidal” says Professor Phil Hart, director of energy and power at Cranfield University.
Are there still tides in the Rance estuary?
By definition, tides still flow in the estuary and the operators, EDF endeavors to adjust their level to minimize the biological impact. The Rance Basin has undergone a full scale evaluation of the ecological impact of the tidal power station during 20 years of operation.