France's 500MW Vendee coast wind farms in 'final stage of preparation' for first monopile installation operation
Ocean Winds-led project will open up an attractive region for producing offshore wind power
Installation of monopiles is set to begin in the first quarter of 2024 for Ocean Wind's 500MW Ile de Y’eu and Noirmoutier wind farms in the French Atlantic.
Preparation for the monopile installation phase of the projects is nearly complete and seabed drilling on the monopile locations is set to begin in the New Year, according to Belgian marine contractor Deme Offshore, whose heavy lift jack up vessel Innovation will be deployed on the project.
The Innovation was used last year for installation of monopile foundations at France’s first offshore wind farm, the 480MW Saint-Nazaire array, which was developed of the country's northern coast by EDF Renouvables, Canada’s Enbridge and CPP Investments.
The Innovation is currently installing wind turbines on the 500MW Fecamp wind farm project, also under development by EDF, Enbridge and CPP Investments. This project features 71 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines.
The Ile de Y’eu and Noirmoutier wind farms are being developed by a consortium consisting of Ocean Winds — itself a joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie —Paris-headquartered Banque des Territoires, Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and local partner Vendee Energie.
The partners reached a final investment decision for the €2.5bn ($3.1bn) project in April, with turbines to be supplied by Siemens Gamesa.
The same partners also building the 30MW Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe de Lion (EFGL) floating wind pilot and the Dieppe Le Treport bottom fixed projects in the French Atlantic.
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