Floating Offshore Wind Power launching in Brittany

Manuel Valls, France Prime Minister, went on Saturday, October 1st on Groix Island, in company with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Defense Minister and President of the Brittany Region, in order to meet economic and public stakeholders which participate in the development of the floating wind energy sector.

On this occasion, Alain Delsupexhe, EOLFI president, presented the floating wind turbines pilot farm project who will be developed off Groix Island, beside CGN Europe Energy and his industrial partners : DCNS, VINCI CONSTRUCTION FRANCE, GE Renewable Energy and Valemo.

On July 22nd of this year, EOLFI, a floating wind energy pioneer French SME, won beside the energetics specialist CGN EE and with the support of the Region Brittany, a call for projects initiated on August 5th, 2015 by the ADEME. The pilot farm will consist of 4 wind turbines, anchored 15 km off the closest coast; she will be connected to the electricity grid by a submarine cable and will benefit from a purchase contract of electricity for a duration of 20 years. With a power of 6 MW by wind turbine, the farm capacity production amounts to 40 000 homes electric consumption (that is 2/3 of the city of Lorient).

Source of growth and alternative to onshore wind power, offshore wind power offers a tremendous development potential: renewable energy experts estimate that in 2050 it will produce twice more energy than nuclear in the world; by 2030, it should nearly satisfy 15% of the European needs and will reach 40 operational GW in Europe in 2025. Compared to onshore wind power, offshore wind power offers a double benefit: less sightseeing impact; more powerful and more regular wind. Floating offshore wind power, which allows to reach the most powerful winds in high sea and to reduce conflicts over the use of the sea, is strategic for France, which has 3,500 km of coasts, the second largest Exclusive Economic Zone, and intends to become a worldwide leader in the marine renewable energy. 

Unique site in France, the Groix zone presents the advantage to offer perfectly representative sea conditions of the potential market at the world level. It is a main advantage for the validation of technologies having the opportunity to be exported. With this pilot farm, EOLFI can offer new business opportunities in export to national actors of the sector, consolidating its position of global leader.

 “We are delighted to be involved, with CGN EE, in the deployment of the first floating wind turbines in France and to be able to improve our control on these technologies in swelling and strong tidal conditions, featuring most of the export market”, says Alain Delsupexhe, President of EOLFI.

A second awarding of contract for experimental floating offshore wind farms could be announced by the ADEME before the end of 2016. Eolfi filed three others projects in the Mediterranean Sea.

More about

• 2016 22 july :Launch of Floating Offshore Wind Power in France: Eolfi, French SME worldwide leader, wins in Brittany along with energy company CGN EE