TotalEnergies appointed to build giant offshore wind farm off Normandy

The total investment amounts to 4,5 billion euros, the largest by TotalEnergies in France in thirty years, the group stated in a separate press release.

After production begins in 2033, this wind farm "will supply the equivalent of more than 1 million French homes with green electricity," he said.

"We are very proud to have won this call for tenders for the construction of the largest renewable energy park in France to date," said Patrick Pouyanné, the group's CEO.

The project "reflects our company's very strong attachment to our country," he added.

France has set itself the goal of having 45 GW of electricity from offshore wind power by 2050. The award of the tender to TotalEnergies "brings to nearly 7,8 GW the cumulative power" of the programs in operation, under construction or under development on the French coast, the Ministry of Energy emphasized.

Four wind farms are currently in operation in France, including Saint-Brieuc, Fécamp, and Saint-Nazaire, all with a capacity of just under 500 MW. Others, such as Dieppe-Le Tréport and Yeu-Noirmoutier, also with a capacity of just under 500 MW, are under construction or nearing completion.

This new offshore wind farm is the first awarded to TotalEnergies in France. It is adjacent to the Centre Manche 1 wind farm, with a capacity of 1 gigawatt, operated by EDF Renewables and Maple Power, whose work is scheduled to begin in 2028 and entry into service in 2032.

"With this second project, the wind power being developed in the "Centre Manche" area is therefore increased to around 2,5 GW, with the objective of producing, by the early 2030s, the equivalent of the electricity consumption of around 2 million French households," according to the ministry.

On the other hand, another park, located in the South Atlantic off the island of Oléron, "received no bids at the end of the application period," he said. Nine candidates had initially been prequalified, including the French companies Engie, EDF Renouvelables, TotalEnergies, the Italian company Eni, and the German company RWE.

Environment and fishing

TotalEnergies, which remains one of the world's oil majors, has set itself the goal of producing 20% ​​of its total energy production, mainly from renewable sources, in 2030, double the current figure.

The group has a portfolio of offshore wind projects in Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and the Netherlands.

And while RWE, a candidate for call for tenders 8 when it was launched in 2022 but which now wants to reduce its investments in renewables, has expressed its wish to leave the consortium, TotalEnergies indicates that in the event of the German group's departure, it "will continue the project by assuming all of the consortium's commitments, while ensuring that a new partner is found."

The former Total changed its corporate name in 2021 to TotalEnergies, sealing its transformation into a multi-energy company, particularly active in renewables.

Despite criticism of the wind turbines, he promises that Centre Manche 2 will "generate strong economic benefits for the Normandy region" with up to 2.500 people employed during the three years of construction of the wind farm.

TotalEnergies intends to make this project "an industrial success while ensuring its acceptability by the region," promised Patrick Pouyanné.

The winner "has made commitments to the local economy and the environment, notably through the recycling of wind turbines (including blades and magnets) and the use of local SMEs," the ministry emphasized.

TotalEnergies, which is regularly singled out by environmental associations, will notably devote 45 million euros to "avoid, reduce and compensate for the impacts of the project" and is committed to ensuring the good coexistence of the park with fishermen in the region.