EDF and its partners have fully commissioned Provence Grand Large, the first floating offshore wind farm in France and the wider Mediterranean, marking a step in the country’s efforts to diversify its renewable energy sources.
Located 17 km off the coast near Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, the pilot project includes three 8.3-megawatt Siemens Gamesa turbines mounted on tension leg platforms. The platforms were developed by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles, using anchoring technologies originally designed for offshore oil and gas installations.
The 25-megawatt facility was developed by EDF Renewables in partnership with Enbridge Éolien France 2, a joint venture between Canada’s Enbridge Inc and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments).
Power is transmitted to shore via dynamic cables manufactured by Prysmian, designed to move with ocean waves. These connect to an onshore substation operated by French transmission system operator RTE.
EDF chief executive Bernard Fontana said the project reflects France’s broader energy goals. “This pilot farm plays an active role in France’s energy transition, while also supporting the emergence of a cutting-edge industrial sector around these innovative technologies,” Fontana said.
Enbridge vice president Matthew Akman described the development as a milestone for the industry. “This project opens new perspectives for the development of low-carbon energy in the offshore sector,” he said.
CPP Investments’ head of sustainable energies Bill Rogers added that the initiative “aligns with our approach to investing in opportunities that contribute to a lower-carbon future while delivering long-term value.”
Provence Grand Large was selected by the French government in 2016 and received public funding from the EU NER300 and Feder programmes, as well as support from France’s Investment for the Future initiative and the regional government.
Environmental monitoring, guided by an independent scientific committee since 2022, includes radar-based data collection and systems for bird detection and deterrence. Developers say consultation with local authorities, fishers, and residents has been ongoing since 2011.
EDF is now moving forward with a second floating wind project, Méditerranée Grand Large, awarded in December 2024.
