Wind Energy – Floating Wind
The French government has selected a site off the Belle-Ile-en-Mer island, south of Brittany, to build the country’s first floating offshore wind farm.
The developer of the 250-MW wind project will be selected through a tender process that has already been initiated.
Final offers of the shortlisted candidates will be accepted early next year, with a winner to be announced in the spring of 2023, the Ministry of the Ecological Transition said on Tuesday.
The offshore wind farm will consist of about 20 turbines, planned to be installed more than 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) off Pointe des Poulains de Belle-Ile and commissioned in 2030.
The specific site is located in the eastern part of an area that was selected after a public debate in 2020.
Once in operation, the wind park will generate electricity to supply around 450,000 people.
Last September, the French government announced the names of 10 pre-selected bidders in the tender. The competition is being held to support the country’s plan to install two floating wind farms south of Brittany, the other being of up to 500 MW.
