French Ministry of Industry Announces Winners for 250 MW Floating Offshore Wind Farms in the Mediterranean

The French Ministry of Industry and Energy has recently revealed the selected partnerships for the construction and operation of two 250 MW floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean. This decision follows the sixth offshore wind tender by the French government, with a focus on renewable energy development in the region.

EDF Renewables and Maple Power, along with Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires, emerged as the winners of the tender process. Each partnership will be responsible for building and operating a floating wind farm off the Mediterranean coast, with a capacity of approximately 250 MW.

Key Details of the Projects:

Both wind farms will be situated 25 km off the Mediterranean coast, providing clean electricity to up to 500,000 people annually. The expected output of the projects is around 1 TWh of renewable energy per year, contributing significantly to France’s sustainable energy goals.

The Golfe de Fos area near Fos-sur-Mer will host the EDF and Maple Power project, while the Narbonaise area between Agde and Port-la-Nouvelle will be home to the Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires initiative. Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie, brings a wealth of expertise to the partnership.

Sustainable Practices and Job Creation:

As part of their commitment to sustainability, the winning partnerships have agreed to prioritize the recycling of wind turbine components, including blades and magnets. Additionally, they have pledged to engage small and medium enterprises for 10% of the project work, supporting local businesses and job creation.

The Occitanie Floating Wind Turbines project, also known as EFLO, is anticipated to generate approximately 5 million hours of work during its development and construction phases. Furthermore, it will create permanent maintenance jobs during the operational phase, contributing to the local economy.

Industry Collaboration and Regional Development:

Recognizing the importance of fostering a strong French industrial sector, the members of both partnerships have signed the “Commitment Charter to Contribute to the Regional Structuring of a French Industrial Sector” with six French regional clusters. This collaboration aims to support regional development and create a robust renewable energy ecosystem.