French Floating Wind Farm to Feature MHI Vestas 10MW Turbines

Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) has selected V164-10.0 MW turbines from MHI Vestas Offshore Wind for its 30MW floating wind pilot project in the French Mediterranean.

Once installed in 2022, EFGL will feature the world’s most powerful wind turbines in commercial operation, MHI Vestas said.

The project, developed by a consortium including Engie and EDP Renewables, is scheduled to deploy three V164-10.0 MW turbines sitting atop the semi-submersible WindFloat platform from Principle Power, Inc. The project was initially planned as a 24MW, four-turbine wind farm featuring GE Haliade 6MW units.

The parties plan to use Port La Nouvelle in Southern France as the assembly harbour before the turbines are towed into place more than 16 km off the coast of Leucate and Le Barcares.

“MHI Vestas is proud to be selected as preferred wind turbine supplier for our second floating project in France,” said Albert Winnemuller, MHI Vestas Head of Floating.

“We continue to refine our technology and experience in the floating sector and are exceptionally pleased to be installing the world’s first 10 MW turbine for EFGL.”

The pilot project is a continuation of the partnership between EDP Renewables, Engie, and MHI Vestas from the WindFloat Atlantic project, which is currently being installed in Portugal.

EFGL is the fifth floating offshore wind project in line for MHI Vestas, following WindFloat 1, Windfloat Atlantic, Kincardine, and Groix & Belle Ile.