Ocean Winds takes FID on 30-MW French floating pilot

Ocean Winds (OW), a Madrid-based 50/50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (ELI:EDPR) and Engie SA (EPA:ENGI), and the Banque des territoires have reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) on a 30-MW floating wind pilot project off the French coast.

Now, the developers can proceed with the signing of contracts with the main industrial and financial partners, an announcement on Wednesday says.

The decision is in relation to the Eoliennes flottantes du golfe du Lion (EFGL) project in the Mediterranean Sea, which will utilise three 10-MW floating wind turbines. The project site is located more than 16 km offshore from Leucate, Aude, and Le Barcares, Pyrenees-Orientales.

Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2023.

Grzegorz Gorski, COO of Ocean Winds, noted that the EFGL project will adopt the third generation of the floater technology developed by Principle Power Inc, featuring significant improvements and new solutions. According to him, it is “the most advanced floater technology and is ready for a full-scale commercial deployment.”

“Ocean Winds with PPI technology is now the only continuation of the French pilot programme projects bidding in Bretagne Sud tender. The other technologies awarded are either discontinued or the awarded developers changed their bets,” Gorski further commented.

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