In November 2010, DCNS and the Martinique regional authority signed an agreement calling for an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) pilot plant with a stable output of 10MW to come on stream in 2015.
The project comes under the energy programme set up by the regional government, local electricity authority SMEM, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency ADÉME and the European Regional Development Fund ERDF.
The main aims are to improve the island's energy independence and promote environmentally responsible local development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The plant will deliver 24/7 power by exploiting the temperature difference between warm surface water and cool, deep currents.
A one-year research programme will be conducted to etermine the plant's main characteristics and tailor the design to Caribbean conditions and programme-specific contracting arrangements.
