FEATURE SPONSOR


SPOTLIGHT ON WESTERN FRANCE


CREATION OF A NEW GREEN


ENERGY SECTOR Allia, a small to medium sized French company, invests in renewable marine energies


The company, who specialised in the oil & gas energy markets, has for the last five years diversified into the production of terrestrial renewable energies with the design and construction of biomass power plants and in offshore applications with floating wind and tidal turbines.


MAJOR PLAYER


With a wealth of feedback from the full size tidal turbine demo Sabella D10, Allia is a major player in the design and manufacturing of tidal turbine support frames and the manufacturing of turbine nacelles. Support for the development of these new technologies is facilitated by an efficient design office with over 40 years’ experience.


DEVELOPING CAST IRON BALLASTING


SOLUTIONS FMGC is a cast iron foundry which designs and develops cast iron ballasting solutions. The company is a subsidiary of the Farinia Group who have a history of longstanding expertise where the group have worked in oil & gas and is now expanding into the Marine Renewable Energies


An innovative solution has already been tested and applied to Sabella’s D10 tidal turbine in the waters of the Fromveur passage, near Ushant. The company incorporated 10 tonnes of cast iron ballast in the nacelle and 180 tonnes in the welded gravity base’s cylindrical legs. The use of cast iron reduces of weight of the turbine support structure threefold. The robust base comprises 200 tons of FMGC tidal turbine ballast, made of gray cast iron.


SPECIFICATION


The Sabella D10 tidal turbine uses a 2km long export cable of which 200 metres is equipped with FMGC protecting and ballasting shells. Made of cast iron, these shells stabilise and hold in place thus protecting the entire cable.


REASONING The reasoning behind the shell decision includes…


» A simple and strong design to minimise the price with a sufficient quantity of cast iron to ensure the proper function of the ballast for 20 years, taking into account corrosion levels


» Decrease the hardness of the operating method


» Decrease the cost of the cable installation with an operation two in one: cable and shells


Other applications may include... » Gravity Anchors » Clump weights


INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION


Combining calculation, design and industrialisation at international production sites in France, Poland and China, Allia are accustomed to manufacturing equipment under constrained conditions and in hostile environments.


INSPIRATIONAL


“The integration of our teams in the development phase with our clients allows us, at the design stage, to take into account the industrial and economic imperatives of project viability,” underlines President Pierre Genevrier. “These projects are inspirational for the company and motivational for the personnel involved in the creation of a new green energy sector.”


Allia www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk 19


HYDRODYNAMIC APPROACH Through the hydrodynamic approach, the high-density of the material and the process of production, the ballasting solution enables…


» Accurate sizing » Reduced project time-cycle, handling and offshore operations » Optimisation of ships and storage spaces » The recoverability and recyclability of the product » Customised manufacturing of complex parts » Integration of mechanical, handling and fastening elements » Manageable heavy lifting


FMGC


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