EC clears French state aid for six offshore wind projects

The European Commission (EC) approved on Friday France’s plan to grant state aid to six offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of close to 3,000 MW.

More specifically, the EU competition watchdog has given the green light to the French government to support the Fecamp, Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Nazaire offshore wind projects developed by a group led by EDF Renewables, as well as the Ile d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier and Dieppe-Le Treport projects developed by an Engie-led consortium. Iberdrola’s (BME:IBE) Saint-Brieuc is the sixth scheme.

These wind farms will be built in French territorial waters off the North-Western coast and each of them will consist of 62 to 83 turbines with an installed capacity of between 450 MW and 498 MW per park. They are expected to become operational in 2022.

The Commission has determined that the level of aid each of these six projects will receive is proportionate and does not entail overcompensation of the beneficiaries. Each scheme will get support in the form of feed-in tariffs (FiTs) over a period of 20 years.

The EC has concluded that giving support to these projects will not distort competition unduly.

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