“Port-la-Nouvelle is gigantism at work. » Friday April 12, when Didier Codorniou speaks at the wind terminal of the commercial port of this commune in Aude, he lacks a few words to discuss the extent of all the projects in progress. The socialist vice-president of the Occitanie region and mayor of the neighboring town of Gruissan has not stopped coming to inaugurate new facilities since 2019.
Because Port-la-Nouvelle, and its 5,800 inhabitants, is the scene of immense projects: the goods capacity will increase from 2 million tonnes per year to 6 million tonnes by 2030, with an objective, ultimately , of 12 million tonnes. The overall surface area of the port will increase from 60 to 210 hectares, welcoming half of new “green” products (hydrogen, offshore wind turbines, circular economy), and the other half, hydrocarbons, cereals, forest products or fertilizer.
Building new terminals, or adding hundreds of meters of additional quays, requires the extraction of 10 million cubic meters of sand and silt. The port will be able to accommodate ships carrying up to 80,000 tonnes with a draft of 14.5 meters, compared to half previously.
The small seaside town wants to become a maritime hub at the forefront of all technologies. “It was that or die,” comments Henri Martin, the mayor (various right) who launched the projects in 2014. Investments which, ultimately, will reach almost a billion euros, financed largely by the Occitanie region, alongside the Banque des Territoires and of private companies.
A two-headed hydra floating
On Friday, the inauguration highlighted these technologies of tomorrow. At the end of the quay still under construction, Nezzy², a 1/10 scale prototype, is on display.e of a two-headed floating wind turbine. Developed by the company EnBW-Valeco, based in Montpellier, the machine is a sort of hydra with two rotors, without motors, which will be able to float and produce 20 megawatts of electricity.
According to François Daumard, president of the group specializing in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects, “the machine represents a technological leap, with a revolutionary design and a very low manufacturing cost.”
Ultimately, Nezzy² will exceed 115 meters in height, and its blades will extend over 180 meters in diameter. The prototype is at the experimental stage, carried out in partnership with the University of Montpellier and its engineering students. During 2024, Nezzy² will head to the port of Sète (Hérault) to undergo tests at sea, in particular its resistance to winds or storms.
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