| Rance Tidal Power Station | |
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Aerial photograph of the Rance Tidal Power Station |
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| Country | France |
| Location | Brittany |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 26 July 1963 |
| Opening date | 26 November 1966 |
| Construction cost | ₣620 million |
| Owner(s) | Électricité de France |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Barrage |
| Length | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Tidal range | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Power station | |
| Type | Tidal barrage |
| Turbines | 24 |
| Installed capacity | 240 MW |
| Capacity factor | 40% |
| Annual generation | 600 GWh |
The Rance Tidal Power Station is the world's first tidal power station and also the world's second biggest tidal power station. The facility is located on the estuary of the Rance River, in Brittany, France. Opened on the 26th November 1966, it is currently operated by Électricité de France, and is the second largest tidal power station in the world, in terms of installed capacity. With a peak rating of 240 Megawatts, generated by its 24 turbines, it supplies 0.012% of the power demand of France. With a capacity factor of approximately 40%, it supplies an average 96 Megawatts, giving an annual output of approximately 600 GWh. 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. The tidal basin measures 22.5 km2 (9 sq mi).
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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 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; an effort which took two years. Construction of the plant commenced on the 20th of 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 the 26th of November of the same year. Inauguration of the route crossing the plant took place on the 1st of July 1967, and connection of the plant to the French National Power Grid was carried out on the 4th of December 1967. In total, the plant cost ₣620 million (approximately €94.5 million).
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 (1.8c per kWh, versus 2.5c per kWh for nuclear).
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 operators, EDF endeavours to adjust their level to minimize the biological impact.
The facility attracts approximately 200,000 visitors per year. A canal lock in the west end of the dam permits the passage of 16,000 vessels between the English Channel and the Rance. Departmental highway 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 may be raised to allow larger vessels to pass.