France extends deadline for filing bids in 2nd offshore wind tender until Nov 29

Mar 19, 2013 - The deadline for submitting offers for the two offshore wind parks near the French coast, under the second offshore wind tender, has been extended until November 29, instead of a previously envisaged deadline for September, according to the terms of the governmental tender published on Monday.

The offers have to be submitted with French energy watchdog CRE which will have four months to analyse the documents, while a decision is expected in the first months of 2014.

The current tender envisages the construction of two offshore wind parks, each one of which will comprise between 80 and 100 turbines. The facilities will be commissioned between 2021 and 2023. They will have a combined installed capacity of nearly 1,000 MW.
The wind turbines will be located at two offshore zones -- near Treport and near Noirmoutier, alongside France's western coast.

CRE will evaluate the submitted offers on the basis of several criteria, among which the price of the electricity that will be produced, commitments in terms of industrial capacity and job creation on a local basis, measures aimed at preserving the environment, fisheries or tourism. Priority will be given to the first two criteria.

The greatest enigma in this tender is whether French utility GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) will decide to take part. Although its core business consists in power and gas distribution, the company has greater ambitions to develop in the sector of renewable energy.

France targets to have an installed capacity of 6,000 MW derived from offshore wind facilities by 2020. However, sector experts are sceptical whether the country will be able to achieve that figure.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!