the government launches consultation on the extension of offshore wind farms in France

The first projects were awarded in 2011 but, due to administrative complications and recourse by associations of all kinds, France currently only has one commercial wind farm in operation. Located off Saint-Nazaire, it has been in operation since the end of last year, itself has been the subject of many controversies. Today, seven other projects are in the works. The dossiers are more or less advanced, but France is lagging behind its German, Scandinavian and British neighbours.

Faced with growing electrical needs – let us recall that in its latest report published this week, RTE (the structure that manages the electricity transmission network) estimates that faced with the acceleration of our consumption – particularly for electric cars – the country will having to double its production of renewable energies by 2035. The objective is enormous. So, faced with these growing needs, and the need to green energies, France is considering some 40 gigawatts in offshore wind power by 2050. This represents around fifty parks (one gigawatt corresponds to the power supply of approximately 1.5 million inhabitants). By 2033, seven to eleven gigawatts could be deployed in the English Channel and the North Sea; up to nine gigawatts in the North Atlantic Channel West; between two and five in the South Atlantic and up to four to five in the Mediterranean.

Planned schedule

The prefects have just received the circular from the State asking them to launch territorial consultations with elected officials and stakeholders in the sea, fishermen, etc. Debates will be organized to identify priority areas for the development of offshore wind power until 2033 and then 2050. The objective being to identify a strategic vision of the economic, social and environmental issues… and above all to give visibility to all actors in the field and to citizens.

There will be public debates in the regions, just to give ourselves time not to act hastily and not to antagonize the fringe of public opinion most hostile to these sometimes gigantic projects.