Green Energy: 50 New Wind Farms to Energize 2023

In 2023, France will see a significant boom in onshore wind power, with the installation of numerous wind farms and a promising breakthrough in offshore wind power.

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The year 2023 marks a crucial milestone for renewable energy in France, particularly for onshore wind power. The announcement of the installation of fifty new onshore wind farms, following a successful second call for tenders, underlines this development. These projects, representing almost 2,000 megawatts of capacity, are the result of two major calls for tender, demonstrating a remarkable acceleration in the deployment of renewable energies.

Momentum boosted by government support

This significant increase comes after a period of slowdown between 2021 and 2022, mainly due to profitability difficulties linked to material inflation. What’s more, the French government’s strategic response at the end of 2022 to index contracts to inflation has revitalized the bidding process. The Ministry of Energy Transition noted that these results reflected the government’s commitment to accelerating the pace of renewable energy deployment.

Challenges and prospects in the wind energy sector

Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly with regard to prefectoral authorizations, which have slowed project development in recent years. In its draft energy strategy, the government is aiming for 40-45 gigawatts of installed onshore wind power capacity by 2035, compared with the current 20.6 gigawatts, illustrating the ambition of its energy transition objectives.

Marine Wind Energy: An Innovative Advance in the Mediterranean

Alongside onshore wind power, the offshore wind energy sector is also undergoing significant development. The government recently announced the location of two future floating wind farms in the Mediterranean, opposite Port-la-Nouvelle and Fos-sur-Mer. These projects, each with a capacity of around 750 megawatts, are a testament to innovation in the field of renewable energy. Scheduled for award by summer 2024, commissioning is planned for 2031.

The year 2023 is shaping up to be a decisive turning point for wind power in France, with significant expansion in both onshore and offshore wind power. This dynamic, supported by appropriate government policies, opens up promising prospects for achieving the country’s energy transition objectives.

French start-up Wind fisher unveils a pioneering airborne wind system capable of producing twice as much electricity as a ground-based turbine by tapping into powerful winds above 300 metres.
The Canadian energy producer led the tenth wind tender launched by the CRE, with two projects representing 13% of the allocated capacity, strengthening its strategic position in the French market.
The European Commission has selected BW Ideol’s Fos3F project for a grant of up to €74mn, targeting the construction of a concrete floater plant for floating wind turbines at the industrial site of Fos-sur-Mer.
Canadian company Boralex reported a net loss of CAD30mn in the third quarter, impacted by lower electricity prices in France and adverse weather conditions in North America.
Energiekontor has closed financing for three new wind farms in Germany, strengthening its project portfolio and reaching a historic construction milestone in the 2025 fiscal year.
RWE has finalised installation of all 44 foundations at the Nordseecluster A offshore site in the North Sea, a key milestone before planned maintenance activities leading up to 2027 on this 660-megawatt project.
A pilot project backed by the state aims to modernise electricity transport between offshore wind farms and the mainland grid using superconducting cables cooled with liquid nitrogen.
The Danish wind turbine manufacturer doubled its net profit in the third quarter despite complex market conditions, supported by increased onshore deliveries and order growth.
Danish offshore wind giant Ørsted reported a net loss of 1.7 billion kroner in the third quarter, despite a $9.4 billion recapitalisation aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and stabilising operations.
Norway's energy regulator has rejected an application to build a wind farm in the northern Finnmark region due to potential environmental impacts and threats to Indigenous Sami culture.
Danish Ørsted has signed an agreement with Apollo to sell a 50% stake in its Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK, in a strategic transaction valued at approximately DKK 39 billion ($5.43bn).
Eneco takes over Prowind’s wind project development business in the Netherlands, adding 260 MW to its portfolio. Prowind refocuses on the German market, where demand is growing rapidly.
The Chinese wind turbine manufacturer and Saudi operator sign a seven-year framework agreement to deploy local production lines and enhance technological cooperation in several strategic markets.
Iberdrola has installed the high-voltage direct current converter station for its East Anglia THREE wind farm, marking a key milestone in a €5 billion project.
Driven by solid operational performance, Nordex has raised its 2025 EBITDA margin forecast to 7.5–8.5%, up from the previous 5–7%, following a significant improvement in preliminary third-quarter results.
Neoen’s Goyder South Wind Farm reaches full generation capacity, strengthening the French group’s presence in Australia’s energy market with 412 MW connected to the grid.
The Australian government has granted environmental approval for the 108 MW Waddi Wind Farm, a Tilt Renewables project with construction costs exceeding $400mn.
The 180 MW Nimbus wind project enters its final phase of construction in Arkansas, with commercial operation scheduled for early 2026.
Faced with market uncertainty in Europe, Siemens Gamesa pauses a planned industrial investment in Esbjerg, highlighting structural difficulties in the offshore wind sector.
Institutional deadlock in France delays tenders and weakens the offshore wind sector, triggering job cuts and major industrial withdrawals from the market.

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