Areva said a “partnership agreement” with CGN will look forcommercial opportunities across several renewable sources, includingconcentrating solar power, biomass and storage technology – but with offshorewind their “priority”.

A statement said: “Areva will provide its expertise as anoffshore wind turbine manufacturer, and CGN will contribute to future projectsas an investor, developer, and operator of wind farms in China and Europe.”

The deal came as one element of a wider power sector co-operation pactbetween Areva and CGN and another Chinese giant, China National NuclearCorporation (CNNC).

CGN