France Launches Second Offshore Wind Tender

January 9, 2013

French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Delphine Batho announced launching of a new tender for construction of offshore wind farms with a total installed capacity of 1GW, the Ministry said in a press release.

This second tender for wind turbines generating electricity at sea should allow the construction of offshore wind farms off Le Tréport and the two islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier. It complements the first tender which in turn will enable the deployment of nearly 2GW of wind power along the French coast.

Investments generated by this tender will be approximately EUR 3.5 billion and will secure10,000 jobs, expected through direct industrial development of this sector in the future. Annual cost to the community is estimated at EUR 500 million.

The area off Le Tréport (Haute-Normandie) covers 110 km² and the one between the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier (Pays de la Loire) covers 79 km², each expected to generate 480-500MW of power.

The winners of this tender will be announced in January 2014 and the construction and commissioning phase of the project is scheduled for 2021-2023.

These decisions are part of the emergency measures taken by the French Government for various sectors of renewable energy, at the time when France engages in a great construction process that characterizes energy transition. The national debate on energy transition will help to definea predictable, stable and sustainable framework for the development of wind energy and other renewable energy sources in the perspective of the goal set by the President of the Republic for 2025.

With this second tender the Government confirms its commitment to support existing industrial plans, especially in the construction of plants on the French territory.

Le Tréport area was opened for competition at the first call for tenders, launched in July 2011, but the price offered in the only bid submitted was very high, which led the Government to declare the tender without further action on this area.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND Staff, January 9, 2013; Image: developpement-durable