France has announced its plans to tender 9,200 MW of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind capacity as part of its commitment to renewable energy. The initiative, set to launch with the AO10 process in early 2025, will focus on developing 4 GW of fixed-bottom capacity along the North Sea coast and 5.2 GW of floating wind farms in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.
Energy Minister Olga Givernet revealed the plan during a visit to the 500 MW Fecamp wind farm off the coast of Normandy. This announcement follows the public consultation known as “The Sea in Debate,” which aimed to reconcile various maritime activities, including fishing, aquaculture, and offshore wind development, while also establishing strong biodiversity protection zones at sea.
The consultation, which ran from November 20, 2023, to April 26, 2024, engaged over 21,000 participants through 375 events. Based on feedback from this debate, the government will also map priority areas for offshore wind development, which will facilitate the launch of the AO10 process. This process aims for a total allocation of 8 to 10 GW by fall 2026, with offshore studies commencing this autumn.
The government has stated that the tender process will help achieve its goal of having 18 GW of offshore wind capacity operational by 2035. Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher emphasized the crucial role of renewable energy in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with offshore wind being a vital component of France's energy strategy.
She noted the importance of preserving marine environments while planning for offshore wind capacity, saying, “This exercise has made it possible to identify areas on our various maritime facades to allocate around 15 GW in the next 10 years, enabling us to decarbonize our energy mix.”
Givernet added that offshore wind could provide 20% of France's electricity production by 2050, underlining the strategic importance of this planning process.
Industry leaders, including Jules Nyssen, president of the Renewable Energies Syndicate (SER), welcomed the announcement, calling it a critical first step in mobilizing the sector. SER Offshore Wind Commission President Pierre Peysson noted the economic benefits of deploying 45 GW of offshore wind, which could produce nearly one-third of France's national electricity consumption by 2035.
The maritime planning initiative is expected to generate significant local employment and enhance the visibility of the renewable energy sector across France.
