French boost for offshore wind power
Capacity of European offshore wind capacity per country (Source: Rystad Energy)
Renewable electricity from offshore wind farms has received a boost in France which could become Europe’s fourth-largest offshore wind power producer by 2030, according to analysis from Oslo consultant, Rystad Energy. By that date, the country aims to have 7.4 GW of capacity in operation, ahead of Belgium and Denmark with 2030 targets of 4 GW and 5.3 GW, respectively.
If these aims are achieved over the next decade, France will only lie behind the UK (expected installed capacity of 40 GW by 2030), Germany (15-20 GW) and the Netherlands (11.5 GW), Rystad said.
“Although France has been quite late to the party compared with several of its Western European counterparties, recent developments suggest that the country is now picking up the pace,” said Alexander Fløtre, Rystad’s vice president and product manager of Offshore Wind. “France’s target for operational capacity in 2023 is 2.4 GW, a target expected to be reached through the completion of already awarded projects.”
A 1-GW tender is likely to be offered this year for grounded capacity in part of the English Channel off the coast of Normandy called Manche Est Mer du Nord. A further 0.5 to 1 GW of grounded capacity is likely to be offered for tender in 2021 and 2022 in the country south-west, named Sud-Atlantique. Between 2024 and 2028, the Government plans to award 1 GW of capacity annually which is likely to comprise a mixture of grounded and floating installations depending on their relative economics.
