Posted on December 9, 2024
The French energy regulator CRE (Commission de Régulation de l’Energie) has published the specifications for two upcoming offshore wind tenders, AO7 and AO8, which aim to developed two wind power plants totalling 2.5 GW off France’s coast. The AO7 tender plans for the development of the around 1 GW Ile d’Oléron wind project (900 to 1,050 MW, with a possibility to be raised to 1,200 MW), located off the island of Oléron, more than 35 km from the coast, while the AO8 tender will see the development of the 1.5 GW Centre Manche 2 wind project (rated between 1,400 MW and 1,600 MW), located 40-50 km east of the Manche department.
The new specifications detail the tender procedures for the nine pre-selected companies, which were chosen by the French Government in March 2023. The specifications also introduce a bid deadline, set for 2 April 2025. The pre-selected companies are Ocean Winds; Groupement Energies du Méridien (Corio Generation); Groupement Eoliennes en Mer Oléron Atlantique (EDF Renouvelables); RWE; Iberdrola; Océole; Eni Plenitude; Groupement Oléron Energies Marines (TotalEnergies and JERA); and a consortium of Skyborn and Cobra.
France aims to reach 18 GW of offshore wind by 2035, including by awarding through tenders 8 to 10 GW of offshore wind projects by 2026.
