EU Nods to Four French Floating Wind Farms

The European Commission has approved French plans to support four demonstration floating wind farms, one in the Atlantic Ocean and three in the Mediterranean.

The projects include the Groix Belle Ile wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Golfe du Lion, Eolmed, and Provence Grand Large wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea.

The demonstration floating wind farms will each be composed of three to four turbines and will each have a total installed capacity of 24MW.

Each of the four demonstration wind farms will use a particular combination of turbines, floating foundations, and cables. The objective of the public support is to test these different technological solutions, with the long-term goal of testing this technology before deploying it on a larger scale.

The demonstration wind farms will receive both investment aid and operating aid. Part of the investment aid will be paid in the form of repayable advances.

The Commission assessed the measures under EU State aid rules, in particular the Commission’s Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy. The Commission found that the French projects will promote the development of a new type of offshore wind energy and the potential growth of a novel renewable energy technology.

The level of aid granted to the four projects was found to be proportionate and will avoid overcompensation for the beneficiaries of the public support, in line with the requirements of the Guidelines.

On this basis, the Commission concluded that the four projects will promote the use of electricity generated from renewable sources and will help France meet its climate targets, without unduly distorting competition.