French President Emmanuel Macron talks with workers on board a boat during a visit at the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm, off the coast of the Guerande peninsula in western France, September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/Pool
By Nia Williams
Nov 23 (Reuters) – France’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm started operating on Wednesday, adding 480 megawatts of capacity to the grid at a time when Europe is scrambling to secure energy supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Saint-Nazaire wind farm, situated off the coast of Brittany in northwestern France, consists of 80 turbines and will provide clean energy to power the equivalent of 400,000 homes annually, or 20% of the Loire-Atlantique region’s electricity consumption.
The project is co-owned by EDF Renewables and EIH Sarl, a subsidiary of Canada’s Enbridge Inc ENB.TO, and CPP Investments.
Enbridge, best known for its North American oil pipeline network, is a partner in three other French wind projects currently under construction.
“(We) look forward to continuing our work together in growing France’s offshore wind sector,” Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s senior vice president of power, strategy and new energy technology, said in a news release.
The Saint-Nazaire project took 10 years to complete. In September, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the site and vowed to cut red tape to halve the time it takes in France to get renewable projects off the ground.
Earlier this year, Macron said he wants France to have about 50 offshore wind farms by 2050.
(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 110,118 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is forging ahead with its offshore wind development plans in California, despite looming political uncertainties surrounding the incoming Trump administration. In a move...
Two of the world's biggest renewables players on Wednesday warned of challenges for the U.S. offshore wind sector under a presidency led by Donald Trump, flagging potential delays for the technology slammed by the president-elect.
Energy regulator Ofgem approved five new subsea power links from Great Britain to the continent and Ireland as the country seeks to profit from a boom in wind capacity and become a net electricity exporter by the end of the decade.
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 110,118 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
