EU Grants EURO 11 Billion Approval for France's 1.5 Gigawatt Offshore Wind Farm Project
The French government has taken a significant step towards expanding its renewable energy sector by announcing the pre-qualified candidates for the AO9 tender for floating offshore wind farm development. Launched in July 2024, the tender offers four sites for the development of floating offshore wind capacity totaling 1.5 GW.
The AO9 tender is part of a larger French plan approved by the EU, involving an €11 billion investment in floating offshore wind farms. This investment is said to contribute to France meeting its 2030 renewable energy targets, under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF).
The pre-qualified candidates have not been disclosed in publicly available documents so far. However, more information is expected to be released later in 2025, especially after the tender evaluation committee opens tenders and publishes relevant extracts.
The first floating offshore wind farm in France was fully commissioned in June 2025. Each wind farm, with a capacity of approximately 500 MW, is expected to generate 2.2 TWh, equivalent to the annual consumption of 450,000 French households.
The scheme, approved by the European Commission, will support the development of three floating offshore wind farms: one located in the sea off the coast of South Brittany and two others in the Mediterranean Sea. The support will be provided as direct price support, through two-way Contracts for Difference (CfD), awarded via a competitive bidding process.
Resilience has been included as a tender prequalification and award criterion to diversify wind turbine and main specific component supply chains. This move aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry and reduce dependence on a single supplier.
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- The investment in the floating offshore wind farms under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) is expected to flow from the finance sector, as a significant part of the €11 billion investment is earmarked for the AO9 tender.
- In the renewable-energy industry, the technology of floating offshore wind farms has gained prominence, with France taking the lead in the field, as evidenced by the AO9 tender for developing four sites with a total capacity of 1.5 GW.
- As the French government aims to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets, the AO9 tender's pre-qualified candidates must demonstrate resilience in their supply chains, ensuring a diversified wind turbine and main component market and reducing dependence on a single supplier.
