Engie to file for permits of 1 GW offshore wind in early 2017 - report

The two offshore wind farm projects, which an Engie-led consortium won at a tender in 2014 are ready to move towards permitting at the start of 2017, Raphaël Tilot, offshore wind power project director at Engie (EPA:ENGI) tells French daily Le Figaro.

Following a national public tender process, a group comprising Engie (then still GDF SUEZ), EDP Renovaveis (ELI:EDPR) , Neoen Marine and Areva was selected to install and operate offshore wind farms in the areas of Treport (Upper Normandy and the Isles of Yeu and Noirmoutier (Pays de la Loire), each with a capacity of 500 MW.

At present, the consortium includes Engie with a stake of 47%, EDP Renovaveis with 43% and French bank Caisse des dépôts (CDC) with a 10% interest.

All preliminary studies have been duly completed, Tilot said, adding that next year the projects will request the necessary permits and open the public consultation process. The final investment decision will be taken in early 2018.

If approved, construction will take up three years between 2019 and 2022, opening at least 1,500 jobs or even four times as many, if indirect employment is taken into account, Tilot noted.

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