The French government has published a detailed map setting out the future deployment of offshore wind farms, key to meeting the country's renewable energy targets for 2035 and 2050. It has also announced the launch of tender number 10, known as ‘AO10’, for 9.2 GW, by early 2025. This tender will allow offshore wind farms with a total capacity of between 8 and 10 GW to be installed, with the aim of awarding them in autumn 2026. l3r6h

The decision follows the public debate "The Sea in Debate" (La Mer en Débat, in french) which took place from November 20, 2023, to April 26, 2024, across 's four maritime regions. Over 21,000 participants attended 375 events to discuss future marine and ocean-related challenges. This extensive democratic process, led by the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP), allowed the government and RTE (the French Transmission System Operator) to present crucial information and engage with the public on these issues.

Ministers Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Fabrice Loher, and Olga Givernet emphasized the significance of this planning for balancing marine activities, including fishing and aquaculture, while also ensuring the protection of marine biodiversity. The government’s response includes a framework for the development of high-protection marine areas, aiming to cover 10% of French maritime space by 2030, aligning with national biodiversity goals.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Ecological Transition, highlighted the importance of offshore wind energy in ’s carbon neutrality target for 2050. "As scientists have told us, renewable energies are essential for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and offshore wind plays a vital role in this. As the President reminded us at the 'Assises de la Mer' last November, we aim to reach 45 GW of offshore wind power by 2050, and this new phase of public debate contributes to that goal. I commend the strong involvement of citizens and local actors in this debate, which allowed us to give visibility to all aspects of offshore wind planning, including the crucial issue of marine habitat preservation," Pannier-Runacher said.

Olga Givernet, Minister for Energy, echoed this sentiment, calling offshore wind "a cornerstone of our energy strategy." She stated: "Offshore wind will provide 20% of our electricity production by 2050. This planning is essential for realizing our ambitions, which will be detailed in the multi-annual energy plan. The identified zones will allow us to launch a new offshore wind tender in the coming months, covering all of 's maritime regions. These initiatives offer critical visibility for the renewable energy sector, generating numerous local jobs."

This decision also includes funding for five new research projects through the Offshore Wind Observatory, with a total of €4.8 million allocated. These projects will focus on the interactions between offshore wind farms and marine biodiversity, including marine mammals and pelagic and benthic ecosystems.

As moves forward with these plans, the goal is to have 18 GW of offshore wind power operational by 2035, contributing significantly to carbon neutrality and energy sovereignty. AO10 will also align with the European Union's "Net Zero Industrial Act," ing a resilient and socially responsible European renewable energy industry.

The maritime planning process will continue with updates to strategic façade documents, scheduled for approval in the summer of 2025, following further local consultations.

The renewable energy associations have welcomed this announcement, viewing it as a positive and necessary move towards enhancing 's offshore wind capabilities. They recognize the importance of strategic planning in achieving the ambitious targets set by the government and the potential benefits for the industry and the environment.

Renewables expresses 146u4y

Anne-Catherine de Tourtier, President of Renewables, stated, “We are pleased with the favorable areas identified by the state and want to emphasize that they result from thorough and generally consensual consultations in the territories. This zoning synthesizes technical, economic, environmental, and landscape issues while allowing for the achievement of set objectives: 18 GW in service by 2035 and 45 GW by 2050. The decision also addresses questions raised by the National Public Debate Commission in its June report and fully takes into the major recommendation to locate parks in exclusive economic zones, meaning beyond 12 nautical miles (over 22 km from the coast). We now need to complete the work by finalizing the strategic documents for the coastline and adopting an energy planning that meets the challenges ahead.”

SER Praises Strategic Direction 4us40

The Syndicate of Renewable Energies (SER) welcomed the government's commitment to making offshore wind a major pillar of the energy transition. Jules Nyssen, President of SER, noted, “This decision marks a strategic turning point for the structuring of the sector, with the announcement of a multi-GW tender ‘AO10’ including 4 GW of installed wind capacity in the English Channel and 5.2 GW of floating wind capacity in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts by 2025.”

Nyssen emphasized the need for balanced development between fixed and floating technologies across the four maritime fronts, highlighting that fixed offshore wind represents a mature and competitive technology that allows for the rapid deployment of projects. He called for maximizing the development potential of fixed wind starting with AO10.

Furthermore, SER noted the importance of planning not only spatially but also temporally, as the offshore wind industrial value chain, currently representing over 8,300 jobs in , urgently needs visibility to maintain and expand its activities. Nyssen concluded, “The maritime planning presented today is a very important first step, and the announcement of an ambitious multi-site tender will mobilize all actors in the value chain. We welcome these advances and wish to work with the government to establish a precise and timed schedule for future tenders. Our sector is ready to respond!”

This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards a sustainable future for ’s energy landscape, paving the way for the development of offshore wind capabilities in the coming years.

Aujourd’hui, nous dévoilons les zones prioritaires d’implantation des éoliennes en mer, à horizon 2035 et 2050.

En 2050, l’éolien en mer pourra couvrir 20% de notre production électrique.
Donons-nous les moyens de relever ce défi technologique et industriel ! pic.twitter.com/mPiIyew9Kk

— Olga Givernet (@OlgaGivernet) October 18, 2024