Industry Majors Back 3GW by 2030 French Mediterranean Floating Wind Goal

More than 70 companies and institutions, including some of the leading offshore wind developers and equipment manufacturers, have called for the development of 3GW of floating offshore wind in the French Mediterranean by 2030.

According to a joint statement, the French Mediterranean is ready to host the first commercial offshore floating wind tender in 2019.

The 3GW objective will be included in the regional development plans of the South-Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur and Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée regions (SRADDET), the statement said.

The French Mediterranean is deemed to have ideal conditions for floating wind, with strong and steady winds, virtually no tides and moderate swells, and a suitable seabed, the statement said.

France has so far approved four floating wind pilot projects with a combined capacity of just under 100MW. Three of those pilot projects are located in the Mediterranean, with the commissioning expected throughout 2020 and 2021. The country’s current energy program calls for the approval of up to 2GW of floating wind and tidal projects in addition to the 100MW that will be in service by 2023.

The call for 3GW of floating wind by 2030 has gathered 74 signatories including Equinor, the owner and operator of the world’s first commercial floating wind farm, GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Gamesa, Senvion, wpd, Engie, EDP Renewables, EDF Energies Nouvelles, etc.