EDF Commissions France’s First Floating Wind Farm off Mediterranean Coast

The EDF Group, through its subsidiary EDF Renewables, and Enbridge Éolien France 2 S.a.r.l, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), has announced the full commissioning of the first French floating offshore wind farm, Provence Grand Large, located off the Gulf of Fos (Bouches-du-Rhône).

With a capacity of 25 MW, the installation supplies the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 45,000 people. As the first floating wind farm in France and the entire Mediterranean basin, the Provence Grand Large wind farm relies on an innovative anchoring technology. The three wind turbines, built by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, are installed on tension leg platforms inspired by technology used to stabilize oil platforms. Developed by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles, this technology is suitable for deep-water areas and provides great stability for the platform. Its adaptation for floating offshore wind turbines is a world first. The dynamic cables, built by Prysmian, which follow and adapt to the movements of the platforms, transport the electricity produced by the Provence Grand Large wind turbines. Connected to subsea and then terrestrial cables, they ensure the transport of the electricity produced to the onshore connection station operated by RTE.