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Wind power in France

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Wind turbines in Champagne-Ardenne.

In 2021 France reached a total of 18,676 megawatts (MW) installed wind power capacity[1] placing France at that time as the world's seventh largest wind power nation by installed capacity, behind the United Kingdom and Brazil and ahead of Canada and Italy. According to the IEA the yearly wind production was 20.2 TWh in 2015, representing almost 23% of the 88.4 TWh from renewable sources in France during that year.[2] Wind provided 4.3% of the country's electricity demand in 2015.[2]

Wind energy capacity, 2014-2023 (MW)[3]: 15 
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
9,201 10,298 11,567 13,499 14,900 16,427 17,535 18,551 20,811 22,196
Onshore wind energy capacity, 2014-2023 (MW)[4]: 18 
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
9,191 10,287 11,556 13,497 14,898 16,425 17,533 18,549 20,809 22,194

France has the second largest wind potential in Europe.[5] The country's , wind power potential is due to its large land area and extensive agricultural landscape where turbines may be located more readily as well as access to considerable offshore resources.

Timeline of developments

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  • In 2001 the French government initially planned to produce 21% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy in 2010 to comply with European directive 2001/77/CE of 27 September 2001. This means that France had to produce 106 TWh of renewable energy in 2010, up from 71 TWh in 2006. Wind power represents 75% of the 35 TWh additional production in 2010.[6]
  • In 2016 installed capacity rises above 1 GW for the first time during the year.[7]
  • By year-end 2015 the total onshore installed capacity of 10,358 MW consisted of 5,956 turbines, with the average turbine at just under 2 MW of power. Newer turbines may be larger following the development of wind power in the last decades.[7] The leading regions in France in 2015 were Champagne-Ardenne with an installed capacity of 1,682 MW, Picardie with 1,502 MW, Centre with 872 MW and Bretagne with 836 MW.[7]
  • In 2016 while France has been a relative late developer in wind power compared to other European countries it has set the target of more than doubling onshore wind power capacity from 2015 levels by 2023.[2] Offshore wind power is scheduled to come online from 2018 for the first time and including marine energy could rise to up to 11.1 GW of power by 2023.[2] Realisation of these plans would more than likely see France overtake highly ranked Spain in terms of installed capacity by 2023.
  • 2018 saw France hold its first onshore wind auction, 500 MW in 22 projects at a strike price of €65.4 MWh.[8]
  • In 2019, Emmanuel Macron confirmed France's pledge to add 1 GW offshore wind every year between 2020 and 2024 as laid out in France's new draft energy plan (PPE).[9]
  • In February 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France was to build 50 offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of at least 40 GW by 2050.[10]

Installed capacity

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Future projections

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Onshore

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Projected onshore windpower in France[2]
2014 2018 2023 low 2023 high
Onshore wind power 9,300 MW 15,000 MW 21,800 MW 26,000 MW

Onshore wind power is projected to rise to 15,000 MW by 2018 and between a low target scenario of 21,800 MW and a high target scenario of 26,000 MW by 2023.[2]

Offshore

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Between 2004 and 2011, high costs and local fishing communities prevented some projects in the public ocean domain. After 2013, information was improved, and permissioning was moved from local to national regulatory authority.[14]

The first commercial offshore wind power project came on line in 2022 with 480 MW capacity.[15] By 2023 another traditional 3,000 MW of capacity is expected to come online with an additional 500 to 6,000 MW of performance dependent installation planned. Marine energy including floating wind turbines will add an additional 100 MW as well as an additional 200 to 2000 MW of capacity by 2023. Overall including marine energy offshore installed capacity will rise to between 3,100 and 11,100 MW by 2023. French law requires owners to decommission facilities at their end-of-life.[14]

The 2022 plan for 2050 is for 40 GW of offshore wind energy.[16]

Onshore auctions

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Auctions started in 2018 and in 2021 France introduced a scheme to combine auctions for all types of renewables, called PPE2.

Offshore auctions

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Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

The following offshore windfarm projects listed have been successful at the auctions.

No. Wind farm Coordinates Cap.
(MW) 		Turbines Commissioned Build cost/
Strike price 		Depth
range (m) 		km to
shore 		Owner Refs.
1
2012 		Banc de Guérande [fr] 47°09′36″N 2°36′25″W / 47.16°N 2.607°W / 47.16; -2.607 480 80 x 6 MW Haliade 150-6MW (GE Energy) 2022[27] €2 billion
@€150MWh 		10-21m 12 km EDF, Enbridge and WPD [28][29][30]
Projet eolien en Mer
de la Baie
de Saint-Brieuc 		48°51′14″N 2°32′13″W / 48.854°N 2.537°W / 48.854; -2.537 496 62 x 8 MW AD8-180 (Adwen) 2024[31] €2.4 billion
@€155MWh 		28-36m 16.3 km Iberdrola, Eole-RES and CDC [30][32][33][34]
Hautes Falaises (Fécamp) 49°53′31″N 0°13′37″E / 49.892°N 0.227°E / 49.892; 0.227 498 83 x 6 MW Haliade 150-6MW (GE Energy) 2024[35] €2 billion
@€150MWh 		25-31m 13 km EDF, Enbridge and WPD [30][36]
Calvados 49°28′12″N 0°31′19″W / 49.470°N 0.522°W / 49.470; -0.522 448 75 x 6 MW Haliade 150-6MW (GE Energy) 2024 planned[37][38] €1.8 billion
@€150MWh 		21-30m 11 km EDF, Enbridge and WPD [30][39]
2
2014 		Dieppe Le Tréport 50°9′N 1°7′E / 50.150°N 1.117°E / 50.150; 1.117 496 62 x 8 MW Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD 2025 planned €2.7 billion
@€150MWh 		14-24m 15.5 km Engie, EDPR, Sumitomo Corp and CDC [30][40]
Îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier 46°52′8.8″N 2°30′36.7″W / 46.869111°N 2.510194°W / 46.869111; -2.510194 496 62 x 8 MW Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD 2025 planned €2.5 billion
@€137MWh 		19-36m 11.7 km Engie, EDPR, Sumitomo Corp and CDC [30][41]
3
2019 		Dunkerque 600 46 x 2028 planned €1.6 billion
@€44MWh 		11.4 km Eoliennes en mer de Dunkerque (EDF, Innogy and Enbridge) [30]
4
2023 		Centre Manche 1 1,050 47 x 2031 planned €2 billion
@€44.9MWh 		>32 km EDF & Maple Power [42]
  • "Cap." is the rated nameplate capacity of the wind farm
  • "When" is the year when the windfarm was commissioned and put into service.
  • "Cost" is the total capital cost of the project up to commissioning.
  • "km to shore" is the average distance of the windfarm to shore, or (where available) the distance from the in-farm transformer/substation to the shore
  • "Depth range (m)" is the range of minimum to maximum depths of water that the windfarm is sited in
  • "Refs" cite the source references for the information. The [w ...] footnotes link to each windfarm's own home page
Map
Offshore wind farm locations (interactive map)

Floating turbine test sites

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France is operating a number of offshore test sites for prototype floating wind turbines which would allow turbines to be located in deeper waters. These include the Nenaphur test site,[43] the Nenuphar twin float,[44] the Floatgen Project[45] and the Sem-Rev Site d'Experimentation en Mer[46] which also tests wave energy converters.

On 30 April 2021, the French government launched a call for tenders for the first floating wind farm project in France. The wind farm is to be situated in southern Brittany and will generate between 230 and 270 MW when operating at capacity.[47]

Public opinion

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Opinion surveys

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Public opinion of wind power developments has remained quite popular among the French public. A 2021 Harris Interactive survey shows that 76% of the French public have a positive view of wind power.[48] This survey also shows that 77% of the French public living within five kilometers of a wind farm have a positive view of wind power. This is backed up by a 2021 IFOP survey, which shows that 77% of the public has a positive view.[49]

Reasons for support

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Collective importance for an Energy Transition

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91% of the French public believes that the energy transition is a very high stake for French society today.[50] French President Emmanuel Macron announced France 2030, a plan which budgets €2.3 billion in renewable energy development until 2030.[51] This pairs with the fact that 82% of French people believe that wind energy is an energy source for the future.[52] The strong belief within in wind energy being a viable source of energy in the future and the strong political salience of the energy transition, together, explain why many in the French public support the installation of wind energy.

Positive impact on the economy

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A Harris Interactive survey showed that 77% of French people believe that wind turbines are a considerable source of revenue for the regions in which they are in place. Jobs in the wind energy sector are also projected to increase.[53] In 2019, France’s onshore wind sector was composed of around 900 companies, employing just over 20000 people.[54] In 2021, this number is now over 25000 people.[55] If Macron’s France 2030 stays on track with its vision, jobs in the renewable energy industry, including wind, are projected to continue increasing until 2030. This fits public opinion, as 68% of French people believe that wind development will create jobs.

The economic benefits of expanding offshore wind capacity are highlighted by a €4.5 billion investment in three offshore substations. This significant contract, signed in 2024, supports essential infrastructure offshore and stimulates local economies, potentially boosting job creation and regional development.[56]

Reason for opposition

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Negative impact on living conditions

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There have been many examples of resistance to wind power developments due to the negative living environment. Reasons may include increased noise, negative impact on the landscape, and tourist and heritage degradation. For example, in 2012, the construction of three offshore wind turbines had to be abandoned, due to a fear of patrimonial degradation of the Mont St. Michel. After fierce local protests, UNESCO threatened to demote the monument from its World Heritage status, prompting organizers to abandon these wind farms.[57]

In 2023, a protest organized by “Vent Debout” in Dunkerque aimed to stop the ongoing development of offshore wind turbines 10 kilometers from the coast. The main reason for the opposition was the visual degradation of the coastline. A local inhabitant explained that wind turbines would remove the future generations’ chance of experiencing the beautiful coast the way they were able to.[58]

Impact on environment

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There is significant worry about offshore wind projects harming the environment and other animals. According to an IFOP poll, 68% of the French public believes that offshore wind turbines are dangerous for birds, marine environments, and fishing.[59] In 2021, a group of 400 fishermen protested against offshore wind turbines in the Le Havre region. The group claimed that since offshore wind turbines started to be developed 15 years ago, the number of fish in the sea has been decreasing. In response, protestors blocked ferry exits and dumped fish in front of a local fishing committee.[60]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Renewable Energy Capacity Statistics 2022" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Programmations pluriannuelles de l'énergie (PPE)". Ministère de la Transition écologique.
  3. ^ IRENA, International Renewable Energy Agency (2024). "RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2024" (PDF). www.irena.org. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  4. ^ IRENA, International Renewable Energy Agency (2024). "RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2024" (PDF). www.irena.org. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ^ "France". www.wind-energy-the-facts.org.
  6. ^ source: Jérôme Gosset et Thierry Ranchin: Bilan et prospective de la filière éolienne française
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Wind energy production capacity France 2020". Statista.
  8. ^ a b "First French onshore wind tender comes in at €65.4/MWh". 1 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Macron vows to accelerate France's offshore ambitions".
  10. ^ Lough, Richard (10 February 2022). "Macron bets on nuclear in carbon-neutrality push, announces new reactors". Reuters.
  11. ^ a b "France - Countries - Online access - The Wind Power - Wind energy Market Intelligence". www.thewindpower.net.
  12. ^ "Renewable Energy Capacity Statistics 2021" (PDF).
  13. ^ "France Wind Power Market Overview". Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Offshore wind energy in France | CMS Expert Guides". cms.law. May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022.
  15. ^ Williams, Nia (2022-11-23). "France's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm starts full operations". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  16. ^ ""France 2030" Investment Plan". 19 May 2023.
  17. ^ "France awards 516 MW of onshore wind in latest tender round". 13 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Price ticks upwards in latest French onshore wind tender". 9 October 2019.
  19. ^ a b "France awards 1.7 GW renewables projects, adjusts 2020 auction schedule". 3 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Latest French onshore wind tender awards 15 projects". 4 February 2021.
  21. ^ "ENVINERGY INSIGHT ON 8TH FRENCH ONSHORE WIND AUCTION" (PDF).
  22. ^ "ENVINERGY INSIGHT ON 9TH FRENCH ONSHORE WIND AUCTION" (PDF). 2022.
  23. ^ a b "ENVINERGY INSIGHT ON 10TH FRENCH ONSHORE WIND AUCTION, revised version" (PDF). September 2022.
  24. ^ "France Awards Only 54 MW of Capacity in a 925 MW Onshore Wind Tender". 23 March 2023.
  25. ^ "French onshore wind tender selects 1.1 GW of winners". 7 July 2023.
  26. ^ "54 onshore sites win in latest French tender". 24 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Construction Heats up at France's First Offshore Wind Farm". 30 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm". Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  29. ^ "French offshore wind gets rolling with flagship turbine for Saint-Nazaire | Recharge". Recharge | Latest renewable energy news. 15 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g "French offshore wind – and the first shall be last…". 11 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Saint-Brieuc: Iberdrola's first large-scale offshore wind power project in Brittany".
  32. ^ "Saint-Brieuc Offshore Wind Farm - Partial Generation/Under Construction - France | 4C Offshore". www.4coffshore.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  33. ^ "Iberdrola's Saint-Brieuc wind farm generates first power". Power Technology. July 7, 2023.
  34. ^ "Éolien en mer. Le projet de Saint-Brieuc sera le plus cher de tous les parcs éoliens français". 4 September 2019.
  35. ^ "Fécamp, France's First Offshore Wind Farm in Normandy, is Now Operational".
  36. ^ "Fécamp Offshore Wind Farm". Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  37. ^ "France's Calvados Offshore Wind Farm Enters Construction Phase". 22 February 2021.
  38. ^ Memija, Adnan (29 August 2022). "Recyclable Blades Ordered for French Offshore Wind Farm". Offshore Wind.
  39. ^ "Calvados Offshore Wind Farm". Archived from the original on 2017-02-24.
  40. ^ "Le projet en bref". Éoliennes en Mer Dieppe Le Tréport (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  41. ^ "Le parc en bref". Éoliennes en Mer des Îles d'Yeu et de Noirmoutier (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  42. ^ "Parc éolien Centre-Manche 1 : les éoliennes feront plus de 300 m de haut". 8 December 2023.
  43. ^ "France Energies Marines".
  44. ^ "INFLOW".
  45. ^ "Floatgen". Floatgen.
  46. ^ "SEM-REV - SITE D'EXPERIMENTATION EN MER - MARINE TEST SITE Floating Wind Farm - Fully Commissioned - France | 4C Offshore". www.4coffshore.com.
  47. ^ "Offshore wind energy in France: The competitive dialogue procedure in a fast-growing industry".
  48. ^ "Comment les Français et les riverains de parcs éoliens perçoivent-ils l'énergie éolienne ? Vague 2". Harris Interactive FR (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  49. ^ "Les Connaissances des Français en Matière d'Énergie Éolienne". 2 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Comment les Français et les riverains de parcs éoliens perçoivent-ils l'énergie éolienne ? Vague 2". Harris Interactive FR (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  51. ^ "France 2030" (PDF). Gouvernement Français.
  52. ^ "Les Français et la politique énergétique de la France" (PDF). ELABE. 4 November 2021.
  53. ^ "Comment les Français et les riverains de parcs éoliens perçoivent-ils l'énergie éolienne ? Vague 2". Harris Interactive FR (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  54. ^ EL Kinani, Khadija; Meunier, Simon; Vido, Lionel; Le Ballois, Sandrine (February 2023). "Interdisciplinary analysis of wind energy - a focus on France". Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 55: 102944. doi:10.1016/j.seta.2022.102944.
  55. ^ "L'emploi dans l'éolien". Journal de l'éolien - Tout sur l'éolien (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  56. ^ "France Unveils Offshore Wind Push to Spur Climate Progress". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  57. ^ "Un projet d'éoliennes près du Mont-Saint-Michel annulé par la justice – Fédération Patrimoine-Environnement" (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  58. ^ "Manifestation anti-éoliennes à Dunkerque : "On veut garder notre littoral intact" - France Bleu". ici, par France Bleu et France 3 (in French). 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  59. ^ "L'image de l'énergie éoliennes auprès des Français". IFOP. 3 November 2021.
  60. ^ "Pourquoi des pêcheurs français se mobilisent contre les projets de parcs éoliens". TF1 INFO (in French). 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
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