TotalEnergies invests €4.5bn in offshore wind farm off the coast of Normandy
TotalEnergies and RWE secure the Centre Manche 2 contract, France’s largest offshore wind project to date, with an estimated investment of €4.5bn ($4.82bn).
| Countries | Allemagne, France |
|---|---|
| Companies | EDF Renouvelables, RWE, TotalEnergies |
| Sector | Énergie Éolienne, Offshore |
| Theme | Investissements & Transactions, Investissement entreprise |
The consortium formed by TotalEnergies and Germany’s RWE has won the tender for the development of the Centre Manche 2 offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Normandy. The project represents a total investment of €4.5bn ($4.82bn), marking TotalEnergies’ largest investment in France in over 30 years.
A strategic project for TotalEnergies
Scheduled to begin operations in 2033, the Centre Manche 2 wind farm is expected to supply electricity to more than one million households. This is the first offshore wind farm awarded to TotalEnergies in the domestic market. The Centre Manche area will thus include two projects with a combined capacity of around 2.5 GW, with Centre Manche 1 already awarded to EDF Renouvelables and Maple Power.
Acceleration of offshore wind capacity
France aims to reach 45 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050. With the award of this new project, the cumulative capacity of operational, under-construction or planned offshore projects now reaches nearly 7.8 GW. Four wind farms are currently operational, including those in Saint-Nazaire, Saint-Brieuc, Fécamp, and Courseulles-sur-Mer, each with capacities just under 500 MW.
RWE considers exiting the project
RWE, initially a candidate for tender round 8, has expressed its intention to scale back investments in renewable energy. In the event of a withdrawal, TotalEnergies has confirmed it will uphold the consortium’s contractual commitments alone and seek a new industrial partner.
Local impact and economic commitments
The construction of the wind farm will involve up to 2,500 workers over a three-year period in Normandy. The Ministry of Energy indicated that the consortium has committed to involving local SMEs and implementing circular economy measures, particularly in the recycling of wind turbine components.
Financial commitments and coexistence with fishing
TotalEnergies has allocated €45mn ($48.23mn) to mitigate the project’s impact on the environment and maritime activities, including fishing. The company stated its intention to ensure compatibility between the wind farm and existing uses in the affected area.
