IRISH TIDAL energy developer Openhydro is preparing to launch the first of four €16m turbines that will make up a €40 million project off the French coast at Paimpol-Bréhat.

Openhydro is providing the hardware and technology to French energy giant EDF to use tidal power to generate electricity off the French coast.

Openhydro’s partner and shareholder, French state-owned defence and nuclear specialist DCNS, built the turbines at its facility in Brest.

The facility will be the biggest tidal energy array in the world and will provide power to the French national grid.

The picture shows Openhydro’s latest €16m tidal turbine being placed on to a custom-designed installation barge.