EDF, Enbridge get permits for 1.4 GW offshore wind farms in France

Three offshore wind projects with a total capacity of 1.4 GW, developed by the renewables arm of EDF SA (EPA:EDF), in cooperation with Canadian energy company Enbridge Inc (TSE:ENB), have obtained the approval of French local authorities to start "installation and operation" of the wind farms.

The 480 MW Saint-Nazaire project (Loire-Atlantique), the 498 MW Fecamp (Seine-Maritime) and the 450 MW Courseulles-sur-Mer (Calvados) projects were cleared to proceed by local prefectures but any opposing stakeholders will have until October to appeal the permit at the Administrative Court of Appeal in Nantes.

The Courseulles-sur-mer project is most likely to face an appeal from several associations, according to local media reports.

EDF won a tender to develop these three offshore wind farms back in 2012.

In May this year, EDF sold 50% of 1.4-GW offshore wind portfolio to Enbridge.

The 6 MW Haliade 150 wind turbine now manufactured by General Electric Co (NYSE:GE) is the turbine choice for the projects. Each of the wind farms is estimated to cost between EUR 2 and EUR 2.5 billion (USD 2.2 - 2.8bn) to build.

The final investment decision has to be taken in the first half of 2017 so that commissioning can take place by 2020.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.106)

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