Iberdrola becomes a sole owner of 496 MW offshore wind farm

Iberdrola has increased its presence in the offshore wind industry, following the conclusion of an agreement to take 100% ownership of Ailes Marines. The company is developing, constructing and operating the 496 MW Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France.

Iberdrola, which previously owned 70% of the consortium's capital, has acquired the remaining 30% from Avel Vor, a joint venture between Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and Caisse des Depots, after receiving the green light from the French Ministry of the Economy.

The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2021. Once fully operational in 2023, the installed capacity of 496 megawatts will produce enough clean energy to satisfy the needs of around 835,000 consumers.

Located approximately 16 kilometers off the coast of Brittany, the Saint-Brieuc plant will require an overall investment of around EUR2.4 billion (US$2.7 billion). It will be equipped with 62 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, each with an 8 MW capacity, installed in a 75-square-km area. The turbines will have a total height of 207 meters.

Jonathan Cole, Iberdrola's Global Managing Director for offshore wind, said: “The Saint-Brieuc project is now ready to get started on construction. All agreements are in place, the funding is secured and contracts are signed. Our detailed Industrial Plan will also support new factories and highly-skilled clean energy jobs in France. We are hoping that the final legal and administrative matters will be concluded quickly, and then this major EUR 2.4 billion investment in a cleaner energy future will be ready to run full speed.”

Saint-Brieuc is a key project for the energy transition and the French government's fight against climate change.