With a capacity of around 1000 MW, this 8th offshore wind farm in France will produce the electricity needed to meet the needs of around 800 households. This decision is accompanied by the launch of the competitive tendering procedure with a view to designating a winner for the development of the park in 000. This park is part of the multi-year energy program, which was published in April 2022 Wind power at sea is a major issue in the energy transition, which will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while diversifying our electricity mix, which makes it better able to face all situations.
The decision on the area chosen to launch the competitive tendering procedure will be supplemented subsequently by detailed answers to each of the questions raised by the public debate, in particular in terms of the assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts, as well as the planning of long term.
From November 2019 to August 2020, a public debate gathered the opinions of more than 2700 participants. It was concluded on October 19, 2020 with the publication of the report by the National Commission for Public Debate. This debate was the first to be held according to the new methods provided for by the ESSOC law of 2018. It made it possible to consult as soon as possible the public concerned by the installation of wind turbines at sea, on a project sponsored by the State. . The debate was innovative in its form, with a wide variety of tools and workshops to reach a large audience, better inform it and allow the collection of their arguments. The participation was much higher than that observed in previous public debates on offshore wind, which confirms the relevance of this format.
The conclusions of the public debate contributed to the choice of the zone chosen for the launch of the competitive tendering procedure. Areas located in the territorial sea have been excluded. The selected area is located more than 32 km from the coast and 40 km from the Vauban towers-observatories of St-Vaast-La-Hougue. Across the entire area under discussion, this has a low level of fishing activity and limited biodiversity issues.
The debate highlighted points of attention on the coexistence of uses at sea, including fishing, and on the need to control the environmental impacts of the park. It also highlights the need for long-term visibility of local actors.
The choice of the zone does not sum up the consideration of the opinions of the public. Under the aegis of the National Commission for Public Debate, a guarantor will ensure the answers provided by the State to the questions raised during the public debate. The Ministry of the Sea has specifically initiated experimental work on the planning of offshore wind power and its articulation with other long-term uses of the sea, in consultation with the front maritime council.
In her decision, the Minister of Ecological Transition announced various commitments for the development of the new park, in particular:
- The specifications for the competitive tendering procedure will take into account the contributions of participants in the public debate when possible and relevant;
- The future developer of the park will have to study the conditions of cohabitation with fishing within the wind farm;
- Environmental studies will be launched in the project area, in consultation with the facade stakeholders, and scientific monitoring of the project;
- A website for public information on all offshore wind projects will be put online in 2021.
In addition to the mobilization of a guarantor to ensure the follow-up given to the public debate, a public inquiry will be held as part of the future authorization procedure for the park. Finally, a consultation and monitoring body will be set up to constitute a privileged place of dialogue between the various stakeholders throughout the life of the park.
Barbara Pompili, Minister of Ecological Transition: “The ecological transition must be a shared ambition, beneficial for all, adopted by all. Offshore wind power is a tremendous opportunity for the country, which has the second largest field in Europe. It is a low-carbon, renewable, competitive and job-creating technology. But its deployment must be done in full consultation with the territories concerned. This is why, for this new Normandy park, we organized an unprecedented public debate, well upstream of the project, even before an installation area was defined. This exercise showed that there was a consensus on the need for ecological transition. I also heard the strong expectations of residents, local economic players and civil society. This is why I decided that the future offshore wind farm would be installed more than 40 km from the coast, in an area to minimize the impacts on our landscape, our fishing activities, maritime traffic and the marine environment. "
Annick Girardin, Minister of the Sea: “This public debate has underlined how much the issue of planning the development of marine energies and more generally uses of the sea is now a priority. This is one of the raison d'être of the Ministry of the Sea. The development of offshore wind power is a major social project that cannot be decided in a Parisian office. We will continue exchanges and consultation, as much as necessary, in order to build a common project for the enhancement, development and preservation of the sea, our common good. The launch of a new wind power project and the ambition of long-term planning must also take into account the context of great uncertainty that stakeholders in the sea in the Channel are already facing, in particular with regard to Brexit and for fishing, with specific support. "
The decision is available for consultation in the Official Journal of Saturday, December 5, 2020.