The concessions for the occupation of public maritime areas for the three wind farms developed by EDF EN in France are in the process of being signed, according to the French government.
EDF EN won the Saint-Nazaire, Fécamp and Courseulles-sur-mer projects at the first French tender in 2012, and received prefectural orders authorising construction and operation of the wind farms last year.
The 450MW Eoliennes Offshore du Calvados project off the coast of Courseulles-sur-Mer will comprise 75 wind turbines mounted on monopile foundations. The 498MW Eoliennes Offshore des Hautes Falaises wind farm off the coast of Fecamp will have up to 83 turbines and will use gravity-based foundations. The 480MW Parc du Banc de Guerande project, located off the coast of Saint-Nazaire, will have 80 turbines supported by monopile foundations.
All wind farms will feature GE’s 6MW Haliade offshore wind turbines.
Prefectural authorisations for the Fécamp and Courseulles-sur-mer have been challenged at court, as several organisations filed appeals to the decisions. In addition, organisations opposing the construction of the Eoliennes Offshore du Calvados wind farm, claiming it will ruin the landscape of the historic site of Normandy landings from WWII, have launched a petition against the project and are organising a demonstration gathering in front of the D-Day Landing Museum in Arromanches in April.
Offshore WIND Staff