By Anders Lorenzen

EDF, the French energy giant known for its nuclear portfolio, has confirmed its decarbonisation commitment by announcing it will construct the largest offshore wind farm in France.

Eoliennes en Mer Manche Normandie (EMMN), a company partly owned by EDF Renewables (the renewable energy arm of EDF) and Maples Power, was selected to build the “Centre Manche 1” offshore wind project.

The giant floating offshore wind farm is projected to have a generating capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) – enough to meet the electricity needs of 800,000 French homes. Construction is planned to begin in either 2026 or 2027.

The project will cement EDF’s dominance in the French offshore wind sector as the company is now involved in five of eight French offshore wind projects.

Floating technology

The wind farm is to be constructed in northern France more than 32 km off the coast of Manche and Calvados in the region of Normandy, France.  It is believed the farm will consist of floating wind turbines, making it more expensive than a conventional offshore wind farm.

France currently has another 4 GW offshore wind under development.

EDF is also believed to have been awarded the contract for two other French offshore wind projects with a combined generating capacity of 2.5 GW.

The French government has set itself the target of building 40 GW of offshore wind by 2050.

So far Denmark and the UK have led Europe in terms of developing offshore wind projects, but many other European countries are starting to catch up.