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

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.

OX2 acquires a 34-turbine wind project in the Dalarna region, representing 14% of the county’s electricity consumption, marking a step forward in its commercial collaborations with Eolus and Dala Vind.
Nordex Group records a significant jump in profitability and order intake, reaching EUR 2.3 bn in the second quarter of 2025, confirming its financial trajectory with a positive free cash flow.
German manufacturer ENERCON is investing up to €30 mn in expanding its Aurich site, with public financial backing to boost the ramp-up of its new turbines designed for the onshore wind market.
The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, with a capacity of 450 megawatts, comes online off the coast of Scotland, mobilising GBP200 mn ($259 mn) in public and private investment for the region.
The British government is increasing by 11% the guaranteed price for offshore wind electricity to support projects facing inflation and supply chain constraints.
DP Energy plans to build a 1,400 MW wind farm near Julia Creek, supported by an energy storage system, enhancing industrial momentum and supply prospects in northern Queensland.
Equinor announces a significant impairment on its offshore wind project Empire Wind, due to regulatory changes and tariffs, affecting its quarterly results.
Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation No. 3 (SEPCO3) has signed an EPC contract for the construction of the 700 MW Yanbu wind energy project under Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program.
The 17 MW floating wind turbine prototype, the most powerful in the world, was launched in China, marking a significant advancement in offshore turbine manufacturing and supporting the development of deep-sea offshore wind power.
RWE has inaugurated the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy, a 53.1 MW facility capable of powering 55,000 Italian households. This project marks a key milestone in the development of renewable energy in Italy.
Swiss company Wysenergy has secured public funding for its first wind project in France, located in the municipality of Faux-Fresnay and selected under the PPE2 tender scheme.
Energy supplier OVO plans to invest several hundred million pounds in the renovation of British wind farms, aiming to increase national capacity and accelerate the country’s energy transition.
Danish group Cadeler has taken early delivery of the Wind Keeper, its eighth vessel, now tied to a three-year contract with Vestas worth a firm EUR210m ($228m), including additional options.
bp has announced the sale of its US onshore wind operations to LS Power, strengthening the American group’s 21GW portfolio and continuing its global asset divestment strategy.
Dstgroup, through its subsidiary dstventures, invests €1.5mn ($1.62mn) in Gazelle Wind Power and commits to building the structures for the Nau Azul project, marking progress for the floating wind industry in Portugal.
German group wpd takes over the teams and a portfolio of 17 wind projects from Calycé, consolidating its position in the French market and expanding its regional presence, particularly in the Grand Est, with the support of Envinergy.
SPIE Wind Connect partners with Van Oord to connect and test 21 high-voltage cables for the Windanker offshore wind farm, marking a key milestone in the development of Germany’s offshore wind sector.
Envision Energy and FERA Australia announce an agreement to develop up to 1 GW of wind and 1.5 GWh of storage on the Australian market, laying the foundation for a new hybrid power plant model.
German group RWE has completed installation of all 100 monopile foundations at Sofia, a 1.4 GW offshore wind farm located 195 kilometres from the British coast, marking a major step in the construction of the project.
Greece’s wind sector reaches a new milestone with 5.5 GW installed, driven by 37 new turbines and €180 mn in investments during the first half of 2025, according to ELETAEN.