Concertation on Wind Energy in France

The French government is launching a six-month consultation process to identify areas suitable for offshore wind energy development. Find out more about this crucial initiative for France's energy future.

Share:

Eolienne-en-mer

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher launched a wide-ranging consultation on wind power in France in November, with the aim of assessing possible areas for development. This ambitious approach aims to identify the best locations for wind farms, while preserving fishing practices. The article explores the details of this crucial initiative for France’s energy future.

Concertation pour l’Énergie Éolienne en Mer (Concertation for offshore wind energy)

The French government has embarked on a major initiative to develop offshore wind energy. The six-month consultation, scheduled to start in November, will involve a variety of stakeholders, including fishermen. Added to this are tourists, local authorities andrenewable energy operators. The aim is to create a map of areas suitable for the installation of wind farms. These are found on all four of mainland France’s coastlines: the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Implications for Wind Energy in France

The initiative aims to save administrative time by grouping the players in a single public debate, overseen by the Commission Nationale du Débat Public (NPDC). This approach will make it possible to launch a call for tenders for the installation of offshore wind farms, up to a total of 10 gigawatts, by the end of 2024. President Emmanuel Macron had initially unveiled this consultation when he announced his ecological planning. He stressed the need to pool efforts to speed up the process.

France’s lag in marine wind energy

France currently has one gigawatt of installed offshore wind power capacity, according to data from the French Ministry of Ecological Transition. However, the country has fallen behind in recent years in the development of offshore wind projects. To meet its targets, the government has committed to 18 gigawatts of wind-generated electricity by 2035 and 40 gigawatts by 2050. The aim is to eventually have around fifty offshore wind farms in France.

As a result, consultation on offshore wind energy in France is a crucial step in the development of renewable energies in the country. By bringing the players together and identifying areas suitable for the installation of wind farms, the government hopes to make up for lost time and make a significant contribution to the energy transition. Finally, this approach demonstrates France’s commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Alerion Clean Power enters the Irish market through the acquisition of an onshore wind farm in County Tipperary, as part of its 2025–2028 industrial plan.
Driven by China's acceleration, global wind capacity is expected to reach 170 GW in 2025, paving the way for a doubling of installed capacity by 2032.
Ocean Winds reaches a new milestone with the installation of the first foundation at the Dieppe – Le Tréport offshore wind farm, which will comprise 62 turbines supplying nearly 850,000 people.
Pennavel and BrestPort strengthen their partnership around the South Brittany floating wind project, aiming to structure industrial operations from 2030 at the EMR terminal of the port of Brest.
Van Oord has completed the installation of 109 inter-array cables at the Sofia offshore wind farm, marking a major logistical milestone for this North Sea energy infrastructure project.
Italian producer ERG will supply 1.2 TWh of energy to Rete Ferroviaria Italiana starting in October, marking a step forward in structuring the national PPA market.
The Trump administration plans to revoke federal approval of the New England Wind project, jeopardising offshore wind contracts representing 2,600 MW of capacity off the northeastern US coast.
Orsted and two U.S. states have taken federal legal action to contest the abrupt halt of the Revolution Wind project, a $5 billion offshore venture now at risk of prolonged suspension.
SPIE Wind Connect will carry out subsea connections for phase II of the TPC project, a major development in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector with a projected annual capacity of 1,000 GWh.
Envision Energy launches its first project in Turkey in partnership with Yildizlar Group, adding 232 MW to the national wind capacity in Karaman province.
ABO Energy maintains its annual targets despite a drop in half-year profit, relying on cost-cutting measures and early project sales to secure cash flow.
Energiekontor has closed financing for two wind projects in Verden, with a combined 94 MW, with construction starting this year and commissioning scheduled for 2027.
South Korea has rejected all projects using foreign turbines in its 2025 offshore wind auction, marking a strategic shift in favour of local industry and energy security.
The Danish Energy Agency confirmed the rejection of 37 feasibility study permit applications, citing European Union state aid rules and lack of competition.
With an AUD$3 billion investment, ACEN launches one of Tasmania’s largest private projects, aiming for commissioning in 2030 and annual supply for 500,000 households.
In France, a 12.9 MW wind farm financed by local actors has been commissioned in Martigné-Ferchaud, showcasing an unprecedented model of shared governance between citizens, local authorities and public investment companies.
The governors of five states urged the Trump administration to maintain permits for threatened offshore wind projects, citing massive investments and jobs at stake in a nascent industry.
Green Wind Renewables is developing a 450 MW wind farm in the Wheatbelt region of Australia, with up to 75 turbines and an estimated annual output of 1.5 TWh.
German group RWE has commissioned five new power plants in France, adding 83 MW to its portfolio, following repeated successes in tenders organised by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The 600 MW onshore wind farm in Laos achieves commercial operation four months early, injecting power into Vietnam via a 500 kV interconnection and consolidating an international financing package of $950mn.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.