DCNS, a world leader in naval defence and an innovative player in energy, firmly believes that the sea represents the future of the planet. The oceans offer a number of solutions to the human, economic and environmental challenges that our planet will be facing in the coming decades. The Group is inventing high-tech solutions to sustainably secure and develop its potential. Benefiting from 400 years of expertise in shipbuilding and from its in-depth understanding of the marine environment, DCNS will present its innovative solutions to meet these new challenges.
DCNS has the ambition of playing a major role in the development of a new line of marine renewable energies. DCNS will present the four technologies in which the Group has invested:
• the tidal energy generated using underwater turbines known as “tidal turbines”, which convert the energy of marine tidal streams into electricity;
• the offshore wind energy generated by offshore floating wind turbines;
• the ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology that exploits the difference in temperature between the warm surface water of tropical oceans and the cold water found in the ocean depths to generate electrical power 24 hours a day, 365 days a year;
• the wave energy, recovered through wave energy conversion systems.
DCNS is growing the French Navy’s resources for combating the emerging challenge of maritime security. The Gowind OPV L’Adroit , which will be presented on its stand, handles these security issues. Operational since October 2011, L’Adroit has validated several capacities, such as ship inspection at sea, through an inspection boat operating system. It has also conducted the first experiments in the use of flying drones.
In addition, DCNS will present its infrastructure expertise and its capacity to offer navies its skills in the design, construction, modernization, maintenance and operation of industrial and harbour facilities. In partnership with international navies, DCNS can design a complete naval base in order to meet all operational requirements, in collaboration with local resources (engineering studies, joint drafting of specifications with customer, and owner assistance throughout the construction phase). DCNS also offers its customers a full line of naval infrastructure optimization and renovation services.
With regard to equipment and systems, DCNS has acquired extensive experience, in particular in the production, servicing and maintenance of numerous operating combat systems in France and internationally. DCNS also offers a comprehensive and scalable line of vertical launchers that can handle most current and future vertically launched missiles.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 5, 2013; Image: DCNS