French Offshore Wind Farm Gets Papers in Order

The French Vendee Prefecture issued authorizations for the construction of the 496MW Iles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier offshore wind farm.

The authorizations concern the concessions for the use of marine area, the environmental impact assessment, and plans for an operations & maintenance base at Port-Joinville on the island of Yeu.

The authorisations enable the developer, Eoliennes en Mer Iles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier, to finalise designs of the offshore infrastructure such as foundations and a substation as well as to place first orders and contracts.

The 496MW Iles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier wind farm project is located 11.6km from the island of Yeu and 16.5km from Noirmoutier, in water depths varying from 17 to 35m.

The wind farm will comprise 62 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines over an area of 83 km2 and expected to be commissioned in 2021. The offshore construction is expected to begin in 2019.

The wind farm is scheduled to be in operation until 2046.

Eoliennes en Mer Iles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier are a partnership between Engie (47%), EDP Renewables (43%) and Groupe Caisse des Dépôts (10%).