Its 24 turbines reach peak output at 240 megawatts (MW) and average 57 MW, a capacity factor of approximately 24%. 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. The cost of electricity production is estimated at €0.12/kWh.
The barrage is 750 m (2,461 ft) long, from Brebis point in the west to Briantais point in the east. The power plant portion of the dam is 332.5 m (1,091 ft) long and the tidal basin measures 22.5 km2 (9 sq mi).
Scale model of the power stationThe power plantThe road on the power stationVideo Rance Tidal Power Station
An early attempt to build a tidal power plant was made at Aber Wrac'h in the Finistère in 1925, but due to insufficient finance, it was abandoned in 1930. Plans for this plant served as the draft for follow-on work. Use of tidal energy is not an entirely new concept, since tidal mills have long existed in areas exposed to tides, particularly along the Rance.
The idea of constructing a tidal power plant on the Rance dates to Gerard Boisnoer in 1921. The site was attractive because of the wide average-range between low and high tide levels, 8 m (26.2 ft) with a maximum perigean spring tide range of 13.5 m (44.3 ft). The first studies which envisaged a tidal plant on the Rance were done by the Society for the Study of Utilization of the Tides in 1943. Nevertheless, work did not actually commence until 1961. Albert Caquot, the visionary engineer, was instrumental in the construction of the dam, designing an enclosure in order to protect the construction site from the ocean tides and the strong streams. Construction necessitated draining the area where the plant was to be built, which required construction of two dams which took two years. Construction of the plant commenced on 20 July 1963, while the Rance was entirely blocked by the two dams.
Construction took three years and was completed in 1966. Charles de Gaulle, then President of France, inaugurated the plant on 26 November of the same year. Inauguration of the road crossing the plant took place on 1 July 1967, and connection of the plant to the French National Power Grid was carried out on 4 December 1967. In total, the plant cost ₣620 million (approximately €94.5 million). It took almost 20 years for the La Rance to pay for itself.
Assessmentsedit
In spite of the high development cost of the project, the costs have now been recovered, and electricity production costs are lower than that of nuclear power generation (1.8 ¢/kWh versus 2.5 ¢/kWh for nuclear).[4] However, the capacity factor of the plant is 28%, lower than 85–90% for nuclear power.
Environmental impactedit
The barrage has caused progressive silting of the Rance ecosystem. Sand-eels and plaice have disappeared, though sea bass and cuttlefish have returned to the river. By definition, tides still flow in the estuary and the operator, EDF, endeavours to adjust their level to minimize the biological impact.
Tourist attractionedit
The facility attracted approximately 40,000 visitors in 2011. A lock for navigation at the west end of the dam allows the passage of 1,600-tonne vessels between the English Channel and the Rance. Departmental road 168 crosses the dam and allows vehicles to travel between Dinard and Saint-Malo. There is a drawbridge where the road crosses the lock which is raised to allow larger vessels to pass. The Rance estuary is the first part of the inland waterway from the English Channel to the Bay of Biscay via the Canal d'Ille-et-Rance and the river Vilaine.[5]
^Yekang Ko; Derek K. Schubert (29 November 2011). "South Korea's Plans for Tidal Power: When a "Green" Solution Creates More Problems" (PDF). report. Nautilus Institute. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
^"Tidal giants – the world's five biggest tidal power plants" (PDF). report. power-technology.com. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
^Edwards-May, David (2010). Inland Waterways of France. St Ives, Cambs., UK: Imray. pp. 90–94. ISBN978-1-846230-14-1.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rance Tidal Power Station.
University of Strathclyde Rance Project (case study) 23 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
November 18, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rance Tidal Power Station news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Rance Tidal Power Station is a tidal power station located on the estuary of the Rance River in Brittany France Rance Tidal Power StationAerial photograph of the Rance Tidal Power StationLocation of Rance Tidal Power Station in FranceOfficial nameUsine maremotrice de la RanceCountryFranceLocationBrittanyCoordinates48 37 05 N 02 01 24 W 48 61806 N 2 02333 W 48 61806 2 02333StatusOperationalConstruction began26 July 1963Opening date26 November 1966Construction cost 620 millionOwner s Electricite de FranceDam and spillwaysType of damBarrageLength700 m 2 300 ft ReservoirTidal range8 m 26 ft Power StationTypeTidal barrageTurbines24Installed capacity240 MWCapacity factor28 Annual generation500 GWhOpened in 1966 as the world s first 1 tidal power station it is currently operated by Electricite de France and was for 45 years the largest tidal power station in the world by installed capacity until the South Korean Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station surpassed it in 2011 2 3 unreliable source Its 24 turbines reach peak output at 240 megawatts MW and average 57 MW a capacity factor of approximately 24 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 The cost of electricity production is estimated at 0 12 kWh The barrage is 750 m 2 461 ft long from Brebis point in the west to Briantais point in the east The power plant portion of the dam is 332 5 m 1 091 ft long and the tidal basin measures 22 5 km2 9 sq mi Contents 1 History 2 Assessments 2 1 Environmental impact 2 2 Tourist attraction 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Scale model of the power station nbsp The power plant nbsp The road on the power station source source source source source source Video Rance Tidal Power StationAn early attempt to build a tidal power plant was made at Aber Wrac h in the Finistere in 1925 but due to insufficient finance it was abandoned in 1930 Plans for this plant served as the draft for follow on work Use of tidal energy is not an entirely new concept since tidal mills have long existed in areas exposed to tides particularly along the Rance The idea of constructing a tidal power plant on the Rance dates to Gerard Boisnoer in 1921 The site was attractive because of the wide average range between low and high tide levels 8 m 26 2 ft with a maximum perigean spring tide range of 13 5 m 44 3 ft The first studies which envisaged a tidal plant on the Rance were done by the Society for the Study of Utilization of the Tides in 1943 Nevertheless work did not actually commence until 1961 Albert Caquot the visionary engineer was instrumental in the construction of the dam designing an enclosure in order to protect the construction site from the ocean tides and the strong streams Construction necessitated draining the area where the plant was to be built which required construction of two dams which took two years Construction of the plant commenced on 20 July 1963 while the Rance was entirely blocked by the two dams Construction took three years and was completed in 1966 Charles de Gaulle then President of France inaugurated the plant on 26 November of the same year Inauguration of the road crossing the plant took place on 1 July 1967 and connection of the plant to the French National Power Grid was carried out on 4 December 1967 In total the plant cost 620 million approximately 94 5 million It took almost 20 years for the La Rance to pay for itself Assessments editIn spite of the high development cost of the project the costs have now been recovered and electricity production costs are lower than that of nuclear power generation 1 8 kWh versus 2 5 kWh for nuclear 4 However the capacity factor of the plant is 28 lower than 85 90 for nuclear power Environmental impact edit The barrage has caused progressive silting of the Rance ecosystem Sand eels and plaice have disappeared though sea bass and cuttlefish have returned to the river By definition tides still flow in the estuary and the operator EDF endeavours to adjust their level to minimize the biological impact Tourist attraction edit The facility attracted approximately 40 000 visitors in 2011 A lock for navigation at the west end of the dam allows the passage of 1 600 tonne vessels between the English Channel and the Rance Departmental road 168 crosses the dam and allows vehicles to travel between Dinard and Saint Malo There is a drawbridge where the road crosses the lock which is raised to allow larger vessels to pass The Rance estuary is the first part of the inland waterway from the English Channel to the Bay of Biscay via the Canal d Ille et Rance and the river Vilaine 5 See also edit nbsp France portal nbsp Water portal nbsp Renewable energy portal List of tidal power stations List of largest power stations in the world Renewable energy in FranceReferences edit Wyre Tidal Energy Archived from the original on 4 February 2015 Yekang Ko Derek K Schubert 29 November 2011 South Korea s Plans for Tidal Power When a Green Solution Creates More Problems PDF report Nautilus Institute Retrieved 27 May 2016 Tidal giants the world s five biggest tidal power plants PDF report power technology com 11 April 2014 Retrieved 27 May 2016 http france edf com html en decouvertes voyage usine bilan usine bilan d html dead link Edwards May David 2010 Inland Waterways of France St Ives Cambs UK Imray pp 90 94 ISBN 978 1 846230 14 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rance Tidal Power Station University of Strathclyde Rance Project case study Archived 23 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine EDF website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rance Tidal Power Station amp oldid 1167771488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
