The French government has postponed the result of the tender for the development of a new 500 MW offshore wind project off Dunkerque (northern France) to 2019. Interested candidates may submit their offers and the government is expected to select the winner in mid-2019. The final tender specifications have already been sent to the pre-selected candidates.
Ten French and foreign groups were shortlisted in May 2017, including Equinor, Elicio, Deme Concessions Wind, InControl France, a consortium of Iberdrola Renovables and RES, a consortium of Engie and EDPR, a consortium of EDF EN, Innogy and Enbridge, a consortium of Boralex and CMI5i Pastor and a consortium of Parkwind and Valeco.
Besides, the government also eventually approved the new tariffs for the six offshore wind projects off the French coastline expected to be commissioned between 2021 and 2024. In 2017, it decided to renegotiate the public funding granted to these parks awarded during calls for tenders in 2012 and 2014, estimating that the rates provided at the time (between €180/MWh and €230/MWh for 20 years) had become excessive given the offshore wind cost decline in recent years. The government estimates that the decrease in subsidized tariffs of around 40% allows a savings of around €16bn over two decades for the end consumer.