France's energy department, the DGEC, has opened a consultation to gather feedback on the country's upcoming tenth offshore wind tender (AO10). The consultation aims to inform preparations for a series of auctions for 9.2GW of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind capacity, expected to take place in the coming months.
The auction will offer seabed plots off France's eastern North Sea, north-western Atlantic, south Atlantic, and south-western Mediterranean coastlines—areas identified in a separate consultation exercise held last year. Of the 9.2GW capacity, 8.4GW is slated to be awarded with direct current (DC) connections by the end of 2026.
One of the key aspects of the consultation is whether the 2GW seabed plots should be offered to a single large project or divided into smaller projects with shared connections. Additionally, the DGEC is seeking feedback on the locations of the plots, the target commissioning dates, and project schedules. The consultation also includes questions on measures to ensure a fair distribution of awards, preventing a single bidder from securing all the tenders.
The consultation period will close on April 4, 2025, and officials have indicated that the feedback gathered will play a crucial role in shaping the final terms for the upcoming offshore wind auction round.
