Wind Energy – Floating Wind
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €2.08 billion French measure to support offshore wind electricity production in France.
The measure will contribute to achieving France’s energy and environmental targets, as well as the objectives relating to the EU’s Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and the European Green Deal.
France notified to the Commission its intention to support the construction and the operation of a floating offshore wind farm in the sea off the coast of the South of Brittany. The aid measure, which will run for a period of 20 years starting of the operation of the wind farm in 2028, will have a total maximum budget of €2.08 billion.
Floating offshore wind technology is at an initial stage in France; until now only small pilot projects have been developed. The floating offshore wind farm supported by the measure will be the first commercial project of this kind off the coast of Brittany. It is expected to have a capacity of 230 to 270 MW, and to generate 1 TWh of renewable electricity per year for a period of 35 years.
The measure will help France meet its target of producing 33% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. The scheme is expected to lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 430.000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
