All foundations have now been installed at the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm in France, marking a key milestone in the development of the 496-megawatt project led by Ocean Winds.
DEME Group confirmed that the 61st and final monopile foundation has been placed using its jack-up installation vessel Innovation, completing the offshore drilling and foundation phase.
The installation took place in complex conditions, including a rocky seabed and challenging weather offshore the Vendée coast. DEME deployed its 350-tonne offshore foundation drill, co-developed with Herrenknecht AG, alongside its MODIGA platform—a 60-metre-high structure designed to stabilise and protect drilling operations.
“These innovative technologies enabled safe and efficient operations throughout the installation campaign,” a DEME spokesperson said. “This milestone is above all the result of the people behind it – the skill, dedication and teamwork of everyone involved.”
The spokesperson also highlighted the cooperation among stakeholders, noting, “From our offshore crews and onshore teams to our client Les Éoliennes en Mer Services, and all partners and subcontractors, this achievement was only possible thanks to close collaboration and a shared commitment throughout the campaign.”
Earlier this month, Ocean Winds announced that the project had delivered its first power to the French grid. The milestone followed the installation and testing of the first turbine, which began generating electricity on 23 May.
The EMYN wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2025 and will play a part in France’s efforts to expand offshore wind capacity as part of its broader renewable energy strategy.
