France has launched a public consultation process on a 1GW wind farm project offshore Normandy and potential future projects in the area.

The National Commission of Public Debate has organized the consultation on the 1GW wind farm and the future offshore wind projects in Normandy which will run from 15 November 2019 to 15 May 2020.

The 1GW project was already announced in France’s Multiannual Energy Programme (Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie (PPE)).

“The development of renewable energies, especially at sea, is a major component of the diversification of our electricity mix. To lead this transition, identifying the areas of future offshore wind projects in a concerted way, well in advance of project implementation, is crucial,” said Élisabeth Borne, France’s Minister of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition.

Recent regulatory changes now make it possible to consult the public on the location of the wind farm and its grid connection before the tender is awarded. The goal of the public consultation is to help define one or more areas suitable for the development of offshore wind farms off Normandy as well as the connection points.

The first 1GW offshore wind farm could comprise 80 12MW wind turbines, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the area off Normandy offers favourable wind and offshore seabed conditions, allowing for wind turbines that produce more energy under competitive economic conditions to be installed. Normandy also has a booming industrial sector that will benefit from local spin-offs in employment, training and taxation, and the connection to the transmission grid will be facilitated by the existing onshore infrastructure, the ministry said.

Back in June, France announced that it will increase its annual offshore wind tendering target to 1GW until 2028.

Currently, France has 2MW of offshore wind capacity in operation, with six projects with a combined capacity of around 3GW approved and ready to be built. The country also has four demonstration floating wind projects currently under development.