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Projects development

Offshore wind

EDF Renewables plays a leading role in the emergence of this new industry, having gained several years of experience by developing projects in Europe.

A mature technology

The mature offshore wind technology makes it possible to install wind turbines on the seabed in large projects that take advantage of strong and steady winds. The development of this competitive industrial sector helps diversify the energy mix and drive economic growth.

The market has grown considerably since the first offshore wind farms were installed in Northern Europe the early 1990s. In the single year 2016, 1,558 MW of offshore wind capacity was added in Europe, raising total installed capacity to 12,631 MW.

Among the major countries developing offshore wind, the UK accounts for about 40.8% of overall installed capacity with 5,156 MW. Germany (4,108 MW) and Denmark (1,271 MW) are the other two countries making up the top three (source: Wind Europe).

Large-scale projects

France projects 

EDF Renewables, currently has 4 offshore wind projects in France: Dunkirk,  Fécamp (lien site), Courseulles (lien site), and Saint-Nazaire (lien site). These future wind farms will provide the equivalent of the electricity consumption of more than 2 million people. 

More powerful wind turbines
Offshore wind turbines are more powerful, they use more regular and stronger marine winds:

  • Saint-Nazaire will be the first project under construction, the park will consist of 80 offshore wind turbines with a unit capacity of 6 megawatts (MW) for a total capacity of 480 MW. The planned production is equivalent to covering the equivalent of 20% of the electricity consumption of the Loire-Atlantique.
  • The two Norman projects of Courseulles and Fécamp will produce enough electricity to cover the equivalent of the electricity consumption of nearly 630,000 people, or more than 90% of the inhabitants of Calvados, and more than 770,000 people, or more than 60% of the inhabitants of Seine-Maritime, respectively.
  • The future Dunkerque wind farm will have an installed capacity of nearly 600 MW. It will provide the equivalent of about 40% of the electricity needs of the Nord department.

Floating offshore wind : new horizons for offshore wind turbines
Among the most promising innovations, floating offshore wind energy is the future solution for expanding the scope of offshore operations.
In addition to traditional solutions, floating offshore wind power will allow projects to be installed in areas of great depth, further from the coast or in windy areas.
For several years, we have been supporting the development of this technology with the Provence Grand Large project, a pilot farm in the Mediterranean. www.provencegrandlarge.fr

Europe: growing expertise

Steadily, in the course of several projects, EDF Renewables has built extensive experience covering the full range of existing technologies and put together dedicated teams.

  • C-Power – 2009 and 2013: 325 MW in operation – Belgium
    Initial participation in bottom-fixed offshore wind projects involving 54 wind turbines within an international consortium. More information is available on the C-Power website.
  • Teesside – 2013: 62 MW in operation – United Kingdom
    A wind farm with 27 turbines entirely developed, built and operated by EDF Renewables.
  • Østerild – 2016: Test site – Denmark
    Onshore test of General Electric 6 MW Haliade-150 wind turbine.
  • Blyth – 2017: 41 MW in operation – United Kingdom
    An offshore wind farm comprising 5 wind turbines of 8,3 MW each off Newcastle. It will be equipped with innovative gravity foundations, transported by flotation from their construction site.