France starts talks over 1GW Normandy offshore wind
Consultation also aims to set plans for future growth as nation ramps up ambitions at sea
France will start consulting over a new 1GW offshore wind zone off Normandy, and the future roadmap of its plans for growth in the sector over the next 10 years.
The Normandy project is the latest attempt by France to get momentum behind its offshore wind programme, which has stuttered compared to those of neighbours like the UK and Netherlands.
France’s earliest award of large-scale projects as long ago as 2012 became mired in regulatory delays and eventually had their rates revised down at the insistence of the government.
France aims to produce 40% of its power from renewables by 2040, with a 33% share of consumption by then.
"The development of renewable energies, especially at sea, is a major component of the diversification of our electricity mix. To lead this transition, identifying the areas of future offshore wind projects in a concerted way, well in advance of project implementation, is crucial,” said Élisabeth Borne, France’s minister for the ecological transition.
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