The French government has reduced the subsidies for six offshore wind projects from the planned €180-€230/MWh to €150/MWh. The project will all be maintained even though they are expected to lose approximately €15bn of public support (40% less than the amount which was initially awarded during the tenders).
The six concerned power plants are all at the planning stage and include in particular the following parks: Fécamp (498 MW), Courseulles-sur-Mer (450 MW), Saint-Brieuc (developed by Ailes Marines for €2.5bn, 496 MW) and Saint-Nazaire (480 MW), all scheduled to come onstream in 2023. The two remaining projects, namely Yeu-Noirmoutier (496 MW) and Le Tréport (496 MW), are expected to be up and running by 2024.
Ailes Marines is a simplified joint stock company which belongs to Iberdrola (70%) and Avel Vor (30%). Avel Vor is itself partly owned by associating the Caisse des Dépôts (7.5%) and RES (22.5%). The 496 MW Le Tréport project is developed by Engie (47%), EDP Renovaveis (43%) and Groupe Caisse des Dépôts (10%). The 480 MW Saint-Nazaire wind park project will be developed by Parc du Banc de Guérande, a 100% subsidiary of Eolien maritime France, jointly co-owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) and Enbridge. EDF is also taking part to the 450 MW Courseulles-sur-Mer project, and to the 498 MW Fécamp project.