Its construction had been recorded in 2010, during the presentation of the Breton electricity pact by Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Landivisiau gas-powered power plant project was intended to be finalized very quickly to give Brittany more energy autonomy, which is hyper-dependent on neighboring regions for heating and lighting. Contested for ten years, in particular by environmental associations, the gas plant of TotalEnergies had produced its first kilowatts this winter. This Thursday, the oil giant officially commissioned its electricity production plant. A first day which comes five years behind schedule.
This natural gas combined cycle power plant uses a turbine powered by natural gas, the combustion of which with the oxygen in the air drives a generator. Recovering the heat from the combustion gases exiting the turbine produces steam. It is this steam which, by driving a turbine, in turn produces electricity. “The plant has been operational since this winter when, during and in parallel with the last tests, it was able to support the Breton electricity network”, specifies TotalEnergies.
Total will receive 40 million per year from the State
Without a nuclear power plant (that of Brennilis not produced for a long time), Brittany only produces around 10% to 15% of the electricity consumed there and imports most of it from neighboring regions. To remedy this situation, a Breton electricity pact concluded in 2010 provided for new sources of electricity production, including the Landivisiau plant, 400 megawatts, built by Siemens. “The plant is necessary to secure the electricity supply of the Breton peninsula”, reiterated TotalEnergies on Wednesday. Its subsidiary Compagnie Electrique de Bretagne will receive 40 million euros per year on the part of the State to operate its factory.
Opponents of the project had notably tried to have the ministerial decree of January 10, 2013 authorizing TotalEnergies to operate such a plant cancelled. In particular, they denounced the greenhouse gas emissions that will be generated by the electricity production plant. But also the cost of construction, estimated at around 400 million euros.
