EC approves almost EUR 11bn of French state aid for offshore wind

The European Commission on Wednesday announced approval for a EUR-10.82-billion (USD 11.6bn) French scheme to support offshore wind, more specifically the construction and operation of two bottom-fixed offshore wind farms in the country.

The measure, which will run for 20 years, will support a wind farm in the South Atlantic zone that will have a capacity of 1,000 MW-1,200 MW, and another wind farm in the Centre Manche 2 zone in Normandy with a capacity of 1,400 MW-1,600 MW.

The aid will come in the form of a monthly variable premium under a two-way contract for difference (CfD). It will be granted via bidding processes, which will select one beneficiary per offshore zone.

The EC approved the French scheme under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF).

“With this EUR 10.82 billion scheme, France can deploy offshore wind capacities faster, in line with the EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy. It will also help France reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, while ensuring that any potential competition distortions are kept to the minimum,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy.

France targets 18 GW of offshore wind by 2035 and 45 GW by 2050.

In late 2023, the EC gave the go-ahead to a EUR-4.12-billion offshore wind support scheme in France to advance the development of two floating wind projects in the Gulf of Lion.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.073)

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