Saipem has encountered delays in drilling foundation locations at the 450MW Courseulles-sur-Mer offshore wind project in France. The contractor began the drilling operations in late 2024, reportedly in October, but has completed only one foundation location to date.
While Saipem declined to provide further comment on the delay, EDF, which is leading the project in partnership with Skyborn Renewables, Enbridge, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, offered an update. In a statement to reNEWS, EDF explained, “Following a series of tests and adjustments to ensure that the drill was running smoothly, drilling operations began late in the second half of 2024 and are now underway. The teams are mobilized with the aim of defining a new schedule for the site in the coming months.
The delay raises concerns that the commissioning of the Courseulles-sur-Mer wind project, originally scheduled for 2025, could be postponed to 2026. The delay was first reported by Bloomberg.
