BW Ideol Projects Company, a joint entity of BW Ideol and ADEME Investissement dedicated to floating wind projects, has acquired a 15% equity stake in the Méditerranée Grand Large project. This move reinforces an ongoing multi-year collaboration with EDF power solutions and Maple Power focused on the development of floating foundation technologies.
The Méditerranée Grand Large project, with an expected capacity of 250 megawatts (MW), will be located 25 kilometres off the coast of Fos-sur-Mer. Awarded as part of the AO6 tender in December 2024, the wind farm is designed to produce electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 450,000 people. A final decision on the choice of floating platform technology is scheduled before the construction phase begins.
Industrial reinforcement around floating technology
The entry of BW Ideol Projects Company as a minority shareholder supports the industrial capacity of the project. EDF power solutions and Maple Power already have experience in the offshore wind sector, having developed the Saint-Nazaire wind farm (480 MW), the Fécamp project (500 MW) and the recently commissioned Provence Grand Large (25 MW). They are currently constructing the Calvados wind farm (450 MW) and developing additional projects in Dunkirk (600 MW) and Manche Normandie (1 gigawatt).
BW Ideol holds equity stakes in the EolMed project (30 MW) in the Mediterranean and the Buchan project (960 MW) in Scotland, as well as ownership and operation of the Floatgen demonstrator, which has been in service since 2018 off the coast of Le Croisic. The entry into Méditerranée Grand Large further expands the company’s presence in the Mediterranean market, which is showing increasing potential for floating wind development.
Aligned objectives for project advancement
The three industrial partners aim to consolidate their respective expertise to move the Méditerranée Grand Large project into its construction phase. BW Ideol Projects Company’s involvement comes at a strategic moment as investment in commercial-scale floating wind expands across France.
BW Ideol’s ability to deliver proven technical solutions, combined with EDF power solutions’ and Maple Power’s project development and management experience, provides a solid foundation for the next stages. Key upcoming decisions include the selection of floating technology, offshore construction planning and mobilisation of port infrastructure.
