Key Takeaways
- A consortium led by TotalEnergies will develop a 1.5 GW wind farm off Normandy, marking France’s largest project of its kind.
Major Developments in France’s Offshore Wind Energy
TotalEnergies has been awarded a significant tender to construct a 1.5-gigawatt wind farm off the Normandy coast, representing France’s largest offshore wind initiative to date. This decision comes amid a transitional phase for the government, which recently collapsed without finalizing crucial legislation necessary for future energy projects.
Despite facing challenges in the French market, often seen as less competitive compared to the UK and Germany, TotalEnergies’ latest venture enhances its renewable energy footprint in France. The country is currently striving to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming for 45 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050, up from the mere 1.5 GW that exists now.
A key element of the project’s success hinges on the implementation of a revised energy planning law (PPE) to facilitate new tenders and provide certainty to industry stakeholders. Isabelle Patrier, head of TotalEnergies France, highlighted the necessity of this law by stating, “TotalEnergies is proud to be French and invest in France, but in effect a new PPE is necessary to reassure industry players and launch new tenders.”
In a separate but related development, Germany’s RWE announced its decision to withdraw from the consortium responsible for this offshore project. RWE indicated that this choice stems from a comprehensive reassessment of its portfolio and the current project, with a spokesperson stating, “RWE will not pursue further development of the project.”
TotalEnergies’ award is particularly noteworthy as the company’s previous attempts to secure tenders in France have often been eclipsed by competitors like state-owned EDF and partially state-owned Engie. Currently, TotalEnergies holds 25 gigawatts of gross renewable capacity globally, but only 2 gigawatts are located in France—although this will increase to 4 gigawatts by 2030.
The wind farm symbolizes a substantial investment, estimated at €4.5 billion (about $5.3 billion), not including grid connection costs. The government has set a tariff of €66 per megawatt-hour, a significant rise attributed to a 50% increase in construction expenses. Upon completion, the wind farm is expected to generate six terawatt-hours of electricity annually, which could power approximately one million households.
TotalEnergies is anticipated to make a final investment decision by early 2029, with the aim of commencing power production in 2033. While Patrier mentioned that TotalEnergies is well-equipped to proceed independently, she also expressed optimism about finding a new partner to fill RWE’s role, noting, “We don’t imagine not being able to find a new partner if RWE leaves, because we know certain developers are already interested in the project.”
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