France inaugurates 25 MW floating offshore wind farm “Provence Grand Large”

As the world transitions away from the conventional fossil fuel sector, Europe is leading the charge. France recently inaugurated a 25 MW floating offshore wind farm known as “Provence Grand Large”. France has become the epicenter of the global energy transition as it produces more than half of its energy from a vast array of renewable energy projects in the nation. The world has become acutely aware of the impact that the global energy sector has on the environment, which has led to a string of projects being commissioned that aim to alleviate the pressure of decarbonization.

The 25 MW Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm in France is a prime example of multinational cooperation

The overarching consensus among the nations of the world is that more needs to be done to fast-track the adoption and commissioning of large-scale renewable energy projects that may replace the significantly large coal and gas sectors. For far too long, the world has relied on gas and oil to meet energy demands, and that has become an issue that needs to be solved.

In that regard, France has emerged from the coal ash to foster new projects that strengthen the already booming renewable energy sector in the nation. More than half of France’s energy capacity comes from nuclear energy, exemplifying the nation’s ambition to bolster the sector in Europe.

The 25 MW Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm, which is being developed by a joint venture between EDF, Enbridge, and CPP Investments, has been officially inaugurated at a star-studded event that saw the biggest names in the French energy sector.

The project has already been operating for a few months, delivering electricity to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. But the official inauguration was recently held, and the French government has lauded the project as a milestone achievement.

The project is the first floating offshore wind project in France’s history

Taking into account the fact that the project is the first of its kind in France, one can understand the excitement and fanfare around it as France aims to accelerate its decarbonization ambitions.

Additionally, the Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm is the first project to be self-financed, meaning that the companies involved did not need to reach out for funding from the French government or anywhere else, for that matter.

It will feature three Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines installed on tensioned line floats and designed by IFP Energies Nouvelles and SBM Offshore. The project began supplying electricity in November of last year, and with a capacity of 25 MW, has the ability to generate the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 45,000 inhabitants.

The project is being developed by EDF Renewables and Enbridge Éolien France 2, a subsidiary of Enbridge and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). Several industry analysts have stated that wind power will surpass solar as Europe’s dominant renewable energy source by 2030.

Some of the most iconic figures in history have stated that the wind power sector is the most underrated form of energy generation.

“As yet, the wind is an untamed, and unharnessed force; and quite possibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be made, will be the taming, and harnessing, of the wind.” – Abraham Lincoln

A the global energy transition accelerates, several oil-rich nations have invested in wind power manufacturing

We are all aware of the potential that wind power has stored away. And it seems that several previously oil-dependent countries are commissioning wind turbine manufacturing sites, further strengthening the reputation of the sector globally. France has been relying on the renewable energy sector for a long time already, and as the world catches up, we expect more nations to jump on board the wind power bandwagon. Once that happens, the end of the coal and gas sector will be upon us.