EC nods to state funding plan for 1-GW offshore wind project in France

The European Commission (EC) has approved, under EU state aid rules, the subsidies that France plans to allocate for the construction of an up to 1,050-MW offshore wind park off its Normandy region, in the English Channel.

The state support will be given as remuneration granted through a competitive tender process specifically designed for offshore wind capacity, the EC said on Tuesday.

The French government selected a 500-square-kilometre (193.1 sq miles) zone off Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy and in January 2021 launched a tender round to select a developer. This spring, six candidates were shortlisted to take part in a competitive dialogue during which they will be given the chance to improve their proposals. The winning bid will be announced in February 2022.

The proposed offshore wind farm will have an installed capacity of between 1,000 MW and 1,050 MW. Once operational in 2028, it is expected to generate around 4.5 TWh of electricity per year.

The project will contribute to France’s ambitions to produce the equivalent of 33% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2030. It also backs Europe’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal, the EC noted.

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