BayWa's renewables arm and Belgian developer Elicio have clinched the 270MW AO5 floating wind tender in France, marking a significant milestone in the country's renewable energy ambitions.
The partners are set to develop the Pennavel project, situated off the south coast of Brittany. Notably, Pennavel will emerge as the world's inaugural commercial floating wind farm to secure a long-term Contract for Difference, according to the developers.
Benefiting from a secured grid connection with RTE, the French transmission system operator, the project boasts essential infrastructure, including offshore substations and export cables.
Stressing their commitment to regional development and community engagement, the project's stakeholders emphasized their dedication to collaboration and transparency. They pledged €5 million to support socio-economic activities in the Brittany and Pays de la Loire regions and announced plans for local population involvement through crowdfunding.
Moreover, the Pennavel project is anticipated to spur significant employment opportunities. During the construction phase, it is expected to generate around 4.5 million working hours, with over 30 permanent jobs anticipated during its operational phase.
Alain Janssens, CEO of Elicio, expressed confidence in the consortium's capabilities, stating, “Elicio brings a unique set of collective and individual skills to this Consortium; and we are extremely pleased that this has been recognised with the award of the AO5 tender.”
Matthias Taft, CEO of BayWa r.e., echoed Janssens' sentiments, highlighting the consortium's commitment and the project's significance in the global transition to renewable energy. He stated, “It is a proud moment for the consortium, and as we begin a new chapter for BayWa r.e. in the floating offshore industry, we are excited to be working on such a game-changing project, which will act as a reference point for future floating wind farms across the globe.”
