The State launches a national consultation to deploy offshore wind farms

The representatives of the State received, Wednesday, June 7, a circular asking them to launch territorial consultations with the actors of the sea, announced Thursday the ministries of the Sea, the ecological Transition and the energy Transition. And this, with a view to the development of offshore wind farms in France. Because faced with growing electricity needs and the need to green energies, the country is considering some 40 gigawatts (about 50 parks) in offshore wind power by 2050.

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To meet these objectives, the prefects will first have to bring together the actors of the sea within the maritime facade councils, in order to prepare, by autumn 2023, the holding of public debates on the four maritime facades of the country. , for the first time and simultaneously. The purpose of these debates will be, in particular, the identification of “priority areas for offshore wind development” until 2033, then until 2050.

For this, the State already delivers them ranges proposed by facade. By 2033, 7 to 11 GW could be deployed in the English Channel-North Sea, 6 to 9.5 GW in the North Atlantic Channel West zone, 2.5 to 5.5 GW in the South Atlantic and 3 to 4.5 GW in the Mediterranean, according to these “fork orientations” released Thursday. France wants to launch 18 GW of new projects by 2033, and an additional 14 GW by 2050.