The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has opened a competitive procedure concerning four offshore wind extension projects located off the south coast of Brittany, in the Mediterranean Sea (two projects), and in the South Atlantic with a total capacity comprised 2.3 GW and 2.9 GW. A floating project of 400 to 550 MW in South Brittany, off Belle-Île-en-Mer (Morbihan), will be installed alongside a first floating project of 250 MW, awarded to Pennavel and expected to be operational by 2032. Two floating projects with an installed capacity between 450 and 550 MW each, will be set up in the Mediterranean Sea, off Port-la-Nouvelle (Aude) in the Occitanie Region, and off Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône (Bouches-du-Rhône) in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region. Finally, a project with fixed or floating turbines is expected off the island of Oléron (Charente-Maritime), with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,250 MW, alongside a 1,000 MW park auctioned to RWE, set to be operational in 2032 or 2033.
These extension projects have already undergone public consultation during the procedure related to the installation of the initial plants in these areas. They can combine additional remuneration with direct sales (PPA). Candidates have until 20 September 2024 to apply. After selecting the applications, the competitive dialogue to define the specifications will be launched in November 2024 for three months. Final offers can only be submitted after the publication of the specifications (around April 2025). The project awards are scheduled for October 2025.
France's Multiannual Energy Program (PPE) sets two target scenarios by 2028 for offshore wind (5.2 GW of installed capacity in the low option and 6.2 GW of installed capacity in the high option). It plans for the allocation of 1 GW per year of fixed or floating offshore wind starting in 2024.
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