French Coastal Regions Balk At New Offshore Wind Targets

Representatives from six French coastal regions and the industry have severely criticised France’s offshore wind targets set out in the new multiannual energy programme, describing them as a ”disaster” and ”the worst-case scenario”.

As previously reported, France plans to add only up to 2.2GW of additional offshore capacity by 2030, on top of the 3GW capacity which had already been allocated in the first two tendering rounds.

The industry and the coastal regions had previously called for more ambitious targets of 10GW of offshore wind capacity, and even up to 5GW of floating wind.

The statement, signed by the presidents of the regions of Brittany, Normandy, New Aquitaine, Occitanie, Pays de la Loire, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, states that the regions ”have already taken, alongside the industrial and business sectors, all the initiatives necessary to support the development of the sector, in particular through massive investments and support for business ecosystems.”

With this scenario, France would exclude itself from ”the international dynamics of wind at sea,” the statement said.

”The industry players in the sector have invested to create and design factories, pursue their technological innovations and are committed to achieving a very strong competitiveness. Together, they can not let such a scenario occur,” according to the regional and industry representatives.

The statement was also signed by the presidents of the France Energie Eolienne (FEE), the Renewable Energy Association (SER), and the French Maritime Cluster.

France currently has 2MW of operational offshore wind capacity which has been in operation since September 2018.