Abstract
SABELLA’s D10 tidal turbine was immersed in the Fromveur Passage in June 2015 and was connected to Ushant island grid, becoming the first grid-connected full scale tidal turbine in France. The installation zone is located inside an area with many layers of environmental protections. Consequently, much care had to be brought to the environmental innocuousness of the device. D10 turbine is also installed close and connected to an island, meaning strong sensitivity to activities carried out in the area and impacts and benefits for inhabitants. There are also human activities at sea around the island, especially with huge marine traffic, fishing, diving and leisure sailing. Regarding social acceptance, SABELLA involved all inhabitants and all possible stakeholders at a very early stage of the project, leading to an excellent local acceptance of the project and even an appropriation of the project by the people. Regarding environmental impacts, SABELLA had the same approach of investigating them and involving all stakeholders, especially the Marine Nature Park of Iroise Sea, at a very early stage. This led for instance to changes in the tidal turbine’s design in order to minimize the environmental impact. An important environmental monitoring plan was also set up.