In France, the government wants to continue the decarbonization of energy production. This Friday, October 18, several ministers were traveling to Fécamp in Normandy to unveil their roadmap for offshore wind power, the “ centerpiece » of their energy strategy. The result is several announcements, including a map of priority deployment zones. All the maritime facades of France are concerned.
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Two projects in the Channel, one in Brittany, another in the Bay of Biscay and a last one in the Gulf of Lyon. This is where offshore wind turbines should be installed over the next ten years and thus increase national electricity production to 18 gigawatts (GW) in 2035 and 45 GW in 2050, compared to 1.5 GW today.
All these projects will be subject to a call for tenders which must be launched “ in the coming months » according to the Minister Delegate forEnergyOlga Givernet. This is the famous “AO-10”, call for tender number 10, eagerly awaited by the wind energy sector. “ Offshore wind power is a key part of our energy strategy, which will provide 20% of our electricity production in 2050. », declared Ms. Givernet in particular.
Public debate
The arbitrations are the result of a public debate entitled “The sea in debate” launched in 2023. They still need to be refined but the Renewable Energies Union (SER) has already reacted, welcoming the government’s desire to support wind power in Wed. The sector now represents some 8,300 jobs, a figure which is expected to more than double within 10 years.
The League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), cited by AFP, was for its part concerned about “ insufficient consideration of potential ecological impacts » on marine protected areas. “ Renewable energies, including offshore wind, are part of the bouquet of solutions for our imperative energy transition, but their deployment cannot be done hastily to the detriment of biodiversity », declared Allain Bougrain Dubourg. For now, three wind farms at sea are in service in France, three are under construction, two have been awarded and four procedures are in progress, recalls the ministry.
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