EDF Energies Nouvelles, the renewable energy subsidiary of EDF Group, has agreed to partner with Calgary, Alberta-based energy delivery company Enbridge Inc. on the development, construction and operation of three French offshore wind farms totaling 1,400 MW of installed capacity.
EDF Group says that through this agreement, Enbridge acquires a 50% stake in Eolien Maritime France (EMF), which is the company controlling the three future offshore wind farms. EDF Energies Nouvelles and Enbridge will then be co-owners of EMF.
Pursuant to the first call for tenders organized by French authorities, EMF was awarded three offshore wind projects in 2012:
- Eoliennes Offshore des Hautes Falaises, with an expected capacity of 498 MW off the coast of Fécamp (English Channel);
- Parc du Banc de Guérande, with an expected capacity of 480 MW off the coast of Saint-Nazaire (Atlantic coast); and
- Eoliennes Offshore du Calvados, with an expected capacity of 450 MW off the coast of Courseulles-sur- Mer (English Channel).
Following an extensive local consultation and broad engineering and environmental studies performed since 2011, EDF says these three projects are progressing as planned and that construction is expected to start gradually from 2017.
“These major future wind farms will provide to our customers a low-carbon, reliable and decentralized energy,” says Jean-Bernard Lévy, president and CEO of EDF. “This is a fine example of what the Energy Transition for Green Growth law is trying to promote in France, and it fits perfectly with CAP 2030, the strategy of the group for the forthcoming years which aims at doubling its renewable energy capacity by 2030.”
