More than 4.800 jobs generated in 2020 in France in renewable marine energies, depending on the sector

The sector generated precisely 4.859 full-time equivalent jobs, to a very large extent among industrial suppliers (the 2019 report listed 3.000 jobs), particularly in Pays de la Loire, Normandy and Ile-de-France. Some 1.500 additional job creations are expected for 2021.

Some 1,5 billion euros were invested in the sector last year, three times more than the previous year, due to the construction and connection of the first three French parks, notes the Energy Observatory of the sea.

The turnover of service providers and suppliers jumped 173% to 833 million euros, and for the first time the majority of their activity is linked to the domestic market (71%), notes this report.

Despite the health context, "the year 2020 marks a change of scale for the French sector, which is taking off thanks to the construction of the first French park in Saint-Nazaire, and the launch of the Fécamp and Saint-Nazaire sites. Brieuc ", notes Frédéric Moncany de Saint-Aignan, President of the French Maritime Cluster, at the origin of the Observatory.

"Many observers feared that the French delay in marine renewable energies would translate into job creation outside France. This is not the case. The majority of the value and jobs from French projects are well anchored. in our country, "he emphasizes.

For 2021, the continuation of projects, the start of construction of the Courseulles-sur-Mer park and the future floating pilot farms in the Mediterranean represent significant growth potential, according to the representatives of the sector.

The sector in France is made up of SMEs as well as large companies. About 10% are "pure players", the others coming from the construction industry, energy or even shipbuilding.

In addition to wind power, renewable marine energies are notably tidal, wave and thermal energy from the seas, which generate investments and jobs but are not subject to commercial development.