From News Desk

Ocean Winds (OW), the international offshore wind energy company created by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, has started electricity production at its 30 MW Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) floating offshore wind farm. With first power now delivered to the French grid, the project is already supplying renewable energy to homes and businesses in South of France.

Developed in partnership with Banque des Territoires, EFGL is marking a major step for floating wind. With its three 10 MW turbines installed on floating foundations, this pilot wind farm located 16 kilometers off the coast demonstrates the viability of floating offshore wind development and construction in the Mediterranean deeper waters and specific environment.

OW has helped build a robust and sustainable local supply chain across all project phases, from early development to construction. Around 85% of direct suppliers mobilised for the project are French companies or companies based in France, with more than 99% located in Europe and 60% qualifying as small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The scale of this collaboration was especially visible during last summer’s assembly and installation campaign at the port of Port-La Nouvelle. Entering its operation phase, the project is already supporting more than 20 workers to monitor energy production and maintenance activities, firmly anchoring local long-term economic activity in Port-La Nouvelle.

The EFGL wind farm is expected to generate around 110,000 MWh/year of clean energy to power annually approximately 50,000 inhabitants for 20 years.

Craig Windram, CEO, Ocean Winds stated, “EFGL’s first power reflects OW’s 15-year leadership in floating offshore wind and confirms our excellence in delivering and operating all offshore wind technologies across the world. From floating solutions in challenging deep-water conditions to bottom-fixed projects like Yeu-Noirmoutier reaching full power this same week, we are proving that our industrial expertise and execution capabilities translate into reliable delivery. This milestone reinforces our track record of turning ambition into operational assets, even in the most demanding contexts and positions us strongly to scale offshore wind globally.”

EFGL is a pilot project that paves the way for larger developments.