Document Details
Title:
RANCE TIDAL POWER STATION ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF BRITANNY
Author(s):
UNKN, [GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, THE]
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
OTHER
Document Type Other:
AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL
Publication Date:
1978 Dec 31
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0002
Accession Number:
NV0097797
Document Number(s):
DOE7811393C
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
THE TIDE WHICH RUSHES UP THE RANCE ESTUARY ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF BR ITANNY IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD REACHING 13 AND A HALF METRE S. THE IDEA OF HARNESSING TIDAL POWER ON THE RANCE DATES BACK ON THE 12TH CENTURY WHEN THE INCOMING WATERS WERE USED TO TURN PADDLE MILLS O N THE BANKS OF THE ESTUARY. BUT THE POTENTIAL IS EXPLOITED ON A MUCH B IGGER SCALE AT PRESENT THE WORLDS FIRST TIDAL POWER STATION TO PRODUCE E ELECTRICITY WAS BUILT ON THE RANCE IN 1966. THE METHOD IS SIMPLE. WHEN THE TIDE RISES A DAM GATE IS OPENED TO ALLOW TO PASS THE DAM IS T HEN CLOSED AND THE ENCLOSED WATER IS TIPPED OVER TOWARDS 24 TURBINES. THE AMOUNT OF WATER IS SO ENORMOUS THAT NO MORE THAN A TWO METRE DROP IS ENOUGH TO GENERATE HUGH AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY. THIS 750 METRE DI KE HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF MANS TRIUMPH OVER NATURE.