Background

The French Energy Regulation Committee (CRE) on 11 July 2011 issued a set of rules, “Specifications of tender No. 2011/S 126-208873 on offshore wind power generation facilities in France”, that outlines the terms and conditions of the new tender process applicable to offshore wind projects off the French coasts.

The new tender regime will facilitate the commission of wind turbines off the French coast, representing a total capacity of 6,000 MW. The project is part of a larger scheme to bring the level of renewable energy up to 23 per cent of the overall energy consumed in France by 2020.