Race to Build Floaters Heating Up in France

Eolfi and CGN European Energy Company have through their joint venture, Eolfi Offshore France, submitted a proposal to ADEME for the construction of a floating wind farm off the island of Groix, the Brittany Region said in a statement.

The 17 km2 wind farm is situated in one of four areas deemed suitable for the development of floating wind farms off France by ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, in August 2015. The joint venture also includes DCNS and Vinci, who will be in charge of the offshore installation and connection of the turbines.

The wind farm will consist of up to six 6MW Haliade offshore wind turbines manufactured by GE. The commissioning of the proposed wind farm is planned in 2019.

Apart from the area off Groix, the other three sites selected as the most favourable for the development of floating wind farms are areas off the town of Gruissan, Faraman lighthouse, and Leucate in the Gulf of Lion, where a French consortium led by Engie and EDP Renewables recently proposed to build a pilot floating wind farm of similar capacity.

Offshore WIND Staff