The water current: difficult to find a cheaper and cleaner source of energy. However, the giant dams are often not accepted by the population. The natural sites are often threatened by these maxi-projects, as in Sivens or even some dwellings. HydroQuest has developed small turbines powered by the river current. This is a local source of renewable energy and more environmentally friendly than the dams.
These discrete river turbines can be installed closer to the needs of populations living near rivers. The tidal turbine is specifically fixed on a barge, itself secured to the ground by an underwater pole. “This machine does not require heavy infrastructure and can be mounted in two days,” said Jean-Paul Aubert, Commercial Director of HydroQuest.
Mounted in two days
Unlike the dams, where regularly fish are finding themselves trapped, river turbines have the advantage of not disturbing biodiversity. “Our solution does not put pressure on the environment, and people accept it more easily because it does not disfigure the landscape.”
Tested in remote locations, as in a small village of Guyana, the solution developed by HydroQuest is now experienced in the city, where it could come to diversify the energy mix. In Orléans (Loiret), a tidal turbine is well connected to the grid since November. It provides 40 kWh, the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 40 households. A first in the region.
