French Environmental Authority Affirms Bay of Saint-Brieuc Decision

France’s Environmental Authority has dismissed an appeal against its recent decision to approve the switch from the Adwen 8MW to the Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbine on the 496MW Bay of Saint-Brieuc offshore wind project without the need for a new environmental assessment.

The appeal was submitted by UPEEL (Union Du Penthievre Et De L’emeraude Pour L’environnement Et Le Littoral), a local environmental conservation organization.

In early December, Environmental Authority stated that the change of the turbine model would lead to a reduction of the project’s environmental impact and that the new environmental assessment study would not be necessary.

French Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition Nicolas Hulot approved the change of the turbine model to be used on the wind farm mid-December.

The Bay of Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm is being developed by Ailes Marines, a joint venture between Iberdrola, RES and Caisse des Dépôts.

The wind farm will comprise 62 wind turbines mounted on jacket foundations, one offshore substation, as well the associated cables. Offshore construction is scheduled to start in 2018 and the wind farm is expected to go online in 2020.

The wind farm will be operated from an O&M base in the port of Saint-Quay-Portrieux.