France's Saint-Nazaire complex fully operational, ready for end-2022 commissioning

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday arrived at the site of the 480-MW Saint-Nazaire wind farm off France’s western coast in the Atlantic Ocean, as part of the official opening of what will be the country’s first commercial offshore complex.

The wind park, located between 12 kilometres and 20 kilometres off the coast of the Loire-Atlantique department, is co-owned by EDF Renewables and EIH Sarl, a subsidiary of Canada’s Enbridge Inc (TSE:ENB) and CPP Investments. EDF Renewables said that the huge complex is due to be fully commissioned at the end of the year.

The Saint-Nazaire park produced first power in June and its last Haliade 150-6MW turbine was erected earlier this month. By end-2022, the plant is expected to generate electricity to cover 20% of the power consumption in Loire-Atlantique. When fully operational, the wind farm will have an output that will supply around 700,000 people.

The Saint-Nazaire project was secured in a government call for tenders back in 2012.

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