The European Commission has approved a €10.82 billion ($11.68 billion) French scheme to support the deployment of offshore wind energy, which will help foster the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme will run for 20 years.
The scheme will support the construction and operation of two bottom-fixed offshore wind farms: one in the South Atlantic zone and another in the Centre Manche 2 zone in Normandy. The South Atlantic wind farm is expected to have a capacity of 1000 to 1200 MW and generate at least 3,9 TWh of renewable electricity per year. The Normandy wind farm is expected to have a capacity of 1400 to 1600 MW and to generate at least 6,1 TWh of renewable electricity per year.
The aid will be granted before 31 December 2025 through a bidding process, which will be organised to select one beneficiary per offshore zone.
The scheme was initially approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF’) adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and on 2 May 2024.
The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in line with Article 107(3)(c) Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the conditions set out in the TCTF.
