SAINT-NAZAIRE OFFSHORE WIND FARM: French Firsts Power Up Country’s Wind Sector

In the Bay of Biscay, on the western coast of France, where the Celtic Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean come together, beautiful beaches are pounded by rough seas and fierce weather. Thunderstorms and powerful winds drive large waves, making the sea tough and challenging.

But for energy creation – harnessing the strength of the wind – this region is brilliant. Large, open, clear, and very windy; companies are now looking at the area closely as France aims for diversification in its energy mix with more wind power top of the agenda.  

Just off the coast of Brittany, where the Loire spills into the sea – not far from the city of Nantes – the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm is taking shape. With 80 turbines generating 480 MW, this project will eventually deliver enough clean power to fuel 400,000 homes each year.

Rising a total of 185m high from the plateau of the Banc de Guérande, wind towers will dominate the landscape, eventually producing 20% of the total electricity consumption for the Loire-Atlantique region.

Owned by EDF Renouvelables, Enbridge, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the Saint-Nazaire wind farm – France’s first commercial offshore wind project – is expected to be complete and fully commissioned by the end of 2022. To date, major milestones have been achieved, and the ambitious team continues to push forwards despite multiple challenges.

Construction began in 2019, and now important work is being carried out by various subcontractors as the project ramps up.

“The EDF Group is immensely proud to be building the very first offshore wind farm in France alongside our partner, Enbridge. I would like to congratulate the teams from the EDF Group and our industrial partners for their professionalism, as well as the local and national operators involved for creating this installation, a symbol of France’s energy transition,” said Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the EDF Group, speaking at an official state visit to the site where the French Prime Minister, Minister for the Ecological Transition, and State Secretary for Economy and Finance were present alongside other senior delegates.

FIRST POWER

On June 10, EDF Renouvelables announced that Saint-Nazaire had produced first power with 27 of the 80 turbines installed. Network operator Réseau de Transport d’Electricite (RTE) continues to connect the farm to the local grid and, following the first tower erection in April, excitement around the project is starting to build.

“GE Renewable Energy was the first manufacturer to invest in an offshore wind turbine nacelle assembly plant in France, and then in a blade manufacturing plant in Cherbourg. We are proud of the progress made in developing this cutting-edge industry, as well as the creation of France’s first offshore wind farm, alongside our partners and suppliers,” said Jérôme Pécresse, Chairman and CEO of GE Renewable Energy.

“[These projects] contribute to the multi-year energy strategy and net zero carbon target adopted by France, calling for a drastic reduction in the proportion of fossil fuels in our energy mix, which currently represent 67% of France’s end energy consumption, replacing this with electricity generated from nuclear and renewable sources,” says Jean-Bernard Lévy.

Currently, all foundations have been laid and the site is ready for development. The first monopile was put in during May 2021 and 12 months later, all 80 were completed following an intensive campaign which required drilling into calcarenite – a type of limestone, the first time an operation of this nature had been performed at such scale. In August 2021, the DEME Group installed the offshore substation allowing ultimate connectivity into the grid.

“Deploying this world’s first equipment enabled us to complete the installation well ahead of schedule. Installation operations continued through the winter season, despite the combination of severe weather conditions and the harsh Atlantic Ocean environment,” said Bart De Poorter, General Manager DEME Offshore.

FIRST TURBINE

In April, when the first commercial offshore wind turbine in France was erected, the ownership consortium was rightly pleased, and the rest of the world looked on at a project that has, to date, expanded without major challenges beyond the macro issues arising from the pandemic and global logistic challenges.

The journey offshore for SODRACO’s Vole au Vent vessel took two hours from the Port of Saint-Nazaire to the site, carrying masts, generators, and blades. Installation of one tower and nacelle takes around 24 hours in favourable weather conditions. As the first turbine went up, before the thought of first power was even sparked, management were again enthusiastic.

“We are delighted that construction of the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm is progressing on schedule. It will be the first in France to be commissioned, ten years after the call for tenders,” said Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group’s Senior Executive Vice President, Renewable Energies and Chairman & CEO of EDF Renewables. “Today, close to 750 people are working on the project on – and offshore, with an unwavering focus on the safety rules. Alongside Enbridge, CPP Investments and our supplier GE Renewable Energy, we have undertaken to bring this landmark facility for France’s energy transition into service by the end of the year, paving the way for energy savings and decarbonised energy.”  

Matthew Akman, Enbridge Inc.’s Vice-President in charge of strategy, energy and new technologies, added: “We are delighted to have erected the first turbine at the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm. Not only is it a key milestone in our project, but also the first wind turbine to have been erected in French waters. That makes it a watershed moment in the development of the rapidly emerging French offshore wind industry.”

Technology partner, and key global supplier to the industry, GE Renewables, was also happy with progress. “Celebrating this key moment for France’s offshore wind industry alongside EDF Renewables, Enbridge and CPP Investments gives us a real sense of pride. With the country’s first offshore wind turbine finally erected, the whole industry deserves congratulations,” said Jan Kjaersgaard, President & CEO of GE Renewable Energy’s Offshore Wind business.

IMPORTANT PRIORITIES

So far, the three-year construction period has created more than 2300 French jobs, and many more in the supply chain. 400 people have been employed at the GE Renewable Energy plant in Montoir-de-Bretagne alone.

Right now, EDF continues to invest in alternative energy sources and is working on other offshore wind projects around the French coast, namely the Fécamp and Calvados wind farms. But, while the focus remains on Saint-Nazaire and the in the Bay of Biscay, safety sits as the very top priority for all parties.

Olivier de la Laurencie, Project Director Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm was clear in his message: “Wind turbines will cover a total surface area of 78km². We work daily with our partners to ensure that the construction of the wind farm takes place in conditions of maximum safety for stakeholders and sea users – that is our priority. To make this human and industrial adventure a reality by the end of 2022, the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm is working with the best specialists in the field.”

For France, this project is of strategic, long-term importance. At the start of the year, President Macron announced ambitions for 40 GW of new capacity to be added to the grid, across 50 offshore wind farms, by 2050. This plan would also include the addition of six new nuclear reactors.

“As of this year, we will be commissioning the first offshore wind farm off Saint-Nazaire,” he said.

“If we want to prevent economics shocks, then we have to build a long-term strategy less dependent on world prices,” he added. “France, through the strategy it adopts, chooses progress, confidence in science, confidence in technology, and in reason. France is making the choice of the climate by giving itself the means to achieve its objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and being one of the largest nations to emerge from dependence on fossil fuels.”

With a beginning in the Bay of Biscay, in the ocean, this brilliant and enduring project and strategy are the key to unlocking a more sustainable future for France.