The regional government of Brittany, France, has allocated EUR 85 million for the 24MW pilot floating wind project off the Ile de Groix proposed by Eolfi Offshore France, a joint venture between Eolfi and CGN European Energy Company.
The financing package includes a grant of EUR 34 million and a EUR 51 million repayable advance.
The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) approved the Groix project in July 2016, along with a 24MW project in the Gruissan area, some 15 kilometres of the Mediterranean coast, led by the Quadran Group.
The EUR 183.3 million Groix floating wind project will comprise four 6MW GE Haliade turbines, installed on DCNS floating foundations produced in collaboration with Vinci, some 15 kilometres off the island of Groix.
Eolfi and CGN have an option to add two more 6MW turbines to the wind farm which could then produce enough power to meet the electricity demand of a city the size of Lorient.
ADEME issued the call for floating wind project proposals in August 2015. The floating wind farms are to have three to six turbines, with turbines having a capacity of at least 5MW.
The call identified four areas as the most favourable for the development of floating wind farms: off the island of Groix, off the town of Gruissan, off Faraman lighthouse, and Leucate in the Gulf of Lion.
In total, five developers have reportedly submitted a total of eight bids within the call for proposals.
Engie, EDP Renewables, Caisse des Dépôts and Eiffage submitted a bid to build a pilot floating wind farm of up to 36MW in capacity at the Leucate site at the beginning of April 2016.
In-mid April, Eolfi Offshore France submitted a proposal to ADEME for the construction of a floating wind farm off the island of Groix.
Apart from the island of Groix, Eolfi Offshore France has reportedly submitted bids for floating farms off Leucate and Faraman lighthouse.
Quadran is said to be interested in the Leucate, apart from the Gruissan site.
EDF Energies Nouvelles is reportedly interested in developing a floating wind farm off Faraman.
Other projects under this call are still being investigated and the additional winners of the call for tender will be announced this month.
Offshore WIND Staff