The French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Ségolène Royal has visited EEL Energy to take a look at its new generation tidal energy device.
Royal was introduced to the 1:6 EEL Energy’s tidal prototype, being tested at the French research institute IFREMER, during her visit to the EEL Energy team in Boulogne sur Mer.
The working principles of the device, based on on an undulating membrane concept, were explained to the Minister by Franck Sylvain, Managing Director of EEL ENERGY.
EEL tidal energy converter consists of a membrane that optimizes energy transfer by coupling fluid flow with an undulating structure.
The membrane undulates under moving fluid pressure, and this periodic motion is transformed into electricity by an electromechanical system.
The energy is converted along the whole length of the rubber membrane surface.
To remind, French government recently backed EEL Energy with €3.7 million through its Future Investment Program (PIA).
Prototype d’hydrolienne liée aux courants marins et créant de l’électricité : #ENR marines #TransitionÉnergétique #Biomimétisme pic.twitter.com/RfNyD8KOLc
— Ségolène Royal (@RoyalSegolene) February 26, 2017