Seine current to make electricity

PARIS city council has announced plans to install water turbines in the Seine to make electricity.

Four sites have been identified for the experiment along the central stretch of the river, with each site due to house two turbines (hydroliennes).

The sites are the Pont du Garigliano in the 16th arrondissement and the Pont de la Tournelle, Pont Marie and Pont au Change in the 4th, where the current is particularly strong.

The Mairie de Paris has put the project out to tender until the autumn and hopes the first turbines will be ready next year. EDF has already expressed an interest in the idea.

The council says it is expecting the eight turbines to only make a small contribution to the city's energy needs, but the experiment will help them better understand the potential.

Paris is also experimenting with geothermal energy, with a project in the 19th arrondissement to provide enough hot water for 12,000 homes.

The city has also installed two small wind turbines on the roof of the Maison de l'Air, although these are producing very little energy.

lilufoto - Fotolia.com