Conditional bids cast uncertainty over France's 1st offshore wind tender - report

Nov 4, 2013 - France's first offshore wind tender is not safe from setbacks since the selected offers, while formally confirmed, are still conditional, meaning that they are still subject to modification and even withdrawal, French daily Les Echos said today citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter.

France's first offshore wind tender awarded a total of 2,000 MW where the bulk of the projects went to a group comprising France's EDF (EPA:EDF) and Alstom (EPA:ALO).

According to the daily, the month to come is crucial because the government is expected to give the go-ahead to the construction works after conducting a specific risk-lifting procedure aimed at reducing the risks of non-construction.

According to the daily's source, the proposed price of the electricity to be generated at the plants, some EUR 200 (USD 270.2) per megawatt-hour, may be revised as studies have shown that such tariffs would call into question the farms' profitability.

Meanwhile, the deadline for participation in France's second wind offshore tender, which calls for projects with a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW, expires by the end of November.

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