EDF, wpd, Alstom Jointly Bid for Two French Offshore Wind Farms

The European consortium comprising EDF Energies Nouvelles and wpd offshore today submitted two bids for French offshore wind projects: the Tréport and Ile d’ Yeu/Ile de Noirmoutier.

These two projects fall within the framework of the second call for tenders for French offshore wind energy projects, representing total new capacity of 1,000 MW to be installed by 2023. This reinforces the ambitious plan already taking place with Alstom, the exclusive supplier of wind turbines.

The companies won together three projects during the first call for tenders.

The quality of propositions made and the accuracy of the studies conducted at the time of the first call for tenders were verified at the end of the risk assessment period. The three project companies created for the first call for tenders each confirmed on 23 October that the projects would continue in accordance with the initial pricing offer, technical options and timetable presented in the applications made in 2012. The extension of this partnership for the second call for tenders will enable the different parties involved to capitalise on the operating and working methods established over the last two or more years.

The submission of bids for these two additional projects confirms the consortium’s aim – with Alstom as manufacturer of wind turbines – to build up and consolidate an ambitious industrial plan ensuring a long-term future for Alstom’s wind offshore plants. This new capacity will provide opportunities in the medium term for the plants securing an additional activity of approximately one year per wind farm, and give Alstom the visibility to export its activities.

The implementation of the industrial plan is expected to create 5,000 jobs including 1,000 direct jobs. As part of the plan, Alstom has begun building four plants to manufacture various key components of the wind turbines. The two Saint-Nazaire plants which will produce the nacelles and the generators have been under construction since spring 2013 and are due to be completed in late 2014.

Building permit application for the blades and tower factories in Cherbourg will be soon submitted.

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Press release, November 29, 2013; Image: Alstom