The French government has announced that 12 candidates have pre-qualified for the AO9 offshore wind tender, a key step in its plan to expand renewable energy capacity. The tender includes four projects with a combined capacity of up to 2,500 megawatts, expected to be awarded in late 2025 and operational between 2032 and 2034.
The pre-qualified consortiums include partnerships such as Le Groupement Elicio, Q Energy, and Kansai Electric; Les Eoliennes du Grand Large (EDF and Maple Power); Ocean Winds/Banque des Territoires; Oxan Energy/Ingka Investments; and Skyborn-Octopus with Plenitude-Qair. Solo applicants approved for the tender include EnBW Valeco Offshore, Iberdrola, BayWa r.e., Parkwind, RWE, and TotalEnergies.
The AO9 tender comprises four projects:
- Bretagne Sud 2: A 400-550 MW floating project extending AO5 in the South Brittany region.
- Golfe de Fos 2: A 450-550 MW floating project extending AO6 in the Mediterranean.
- Narbonnaise 2: A 450-550 MW floating project, also linked to AO6.
- Oleron 2: A 1-1.25 GW project, either fixed or floating, extending AO7 in the South Atlantic.
These projects mark extensions of earlier tenders and reflect the government's commitment to integrating offshore wind as a central component of its energy transition. During the next phase of the process, a competitive dialogue will refine tender criteria and clarify maritime zones for project locations.
The AO9 announcement aligns with France's broader renewable energy strategy, which includes the upcoming AO10 tender. Scheduled to launch in the coming months, AO10 is set to add between 8.4 and 9.2 GW of offshore wind capacity, offering substantial growth opportunities for the sector.
“Offshore wind has a huge potential to contribute to Europe's decarbonised energy goals, and we are looking forward to the next steps of this partnership in France,” said Frederik de Jong, head of renewable energy at Ingka Investments.
Oxan Energy's founder and CEO Nicolas Paul-Dauphin added, “We are delighted to collaborate with Ingka Investments, a strong and strategic partner, for the French market. France offers tremendous opportunities for offshore wind expansion.”
