Nexans Secures EUR 1 Billion Framework Agreement with RTE for Offshore Wind Farm Cables

Nexans has recently announced the signing of a major framework agreement valued at over EUR 1 billion with Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) for the design, manufacturing, and supply of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables for offshore wind farms in France.

The agreement encompasses the supply, installation, and commissioning of 450 kilometers of HVDC subsea cables and 280 kilometers of HVDC onshore cables to facilitate the connection of three offshore wind farms – Center Manche 1 & 2 and Oléron – to the French transmission network.

According to Nexans CEO, Christopher Guérin, “By delivering state-of-the-art transmission solutions, we are not only supporting France’s ambitious offshore wind targets but also strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the power grid. Nexans remains committed to enabling a more connected and sustainable future, leveraging our expertise to drive forward the large-scale renewable energy projects that will define tomorrow’s energy landscape.”

The agreement aligns with France’s goal of achieving 45 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050. The Center Manche 1 wind farm is being developed by Eoliennes en Mer Manche Normandie, while the developer for the Center Manche 2 project will be selected in 2025 through the French AO8 tender. The Ile d’Oléron wind farm, with a capacity of up to 1.2 GW, is planned off the coast of Oléron.

In August 2024, RTE awarded a contract to Hitachi Energy and Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the onshore converter stations and offshore substations for the three projects. Currently, France has three operational offshore wind farms, with the most recent addition being the 496 MW Saint-Brieuc project.