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Ocean Winds in France
In France, Ocean Winds — consistently in partnership with Banque des Territoires — is the majority shareholder of four offshore wind farms, including three currently under simultaneous construction. Together, these projects represent 1.3 GW of installed capacity, enough to power more than 2 million French households annually.
OUR FOOTPRINT IN FRANCE
Yeu-Noirmoutier
An approximately 500 MW bottom-fixed offshore wind farm using monopile foundations, currently under construction off the Atlantic coast.
Dieppe Le-Tréport
An approximately 500 MW bottom-fixed offshore wind farm using jacket foundations, currently under construction in the Manche Channel.
Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion
A 30 MW pilot floating offshore wind project currently under construction in the Gulf of Lion, in the Mediterranean.
Éoliennes Flottantes d’Occitanie
An approximately 250 MW floating offshore wind project currently under development in the Gulf of Lion off the coast of the Occitanie Region.
Creating local job and supply chain opportunities
Ocean Winds is committed to supporting the French and European supply chain working in close relationship with the private and public sectors, ports, and local supply chain to ensure that our projects contribute to long-term and sustainable industry development.
For example, a key feature of the Yeu-Noirmoutier project is its strong European and French industrial footprint for the construction phase with 95% of the project’s Tier 1 suppliers being European, and over 50% of these sourced in France.
- The 61 turbines are supplied by Siemens Gamesa, a Spanish-German manufacturer with a proven track record in offshore wind, which is also providing turbines for the Dieppe Le Tréport project.
- The wind turbine blades and nacelles are manufactured in Le Havre and pre-assembled in Saint-Nazaire (France).
- The towers were made in Bilbao (Spain), while offshore installation is being carried out by Jan De Nul, a leading marine contractor based in Belgium.
- The steel jackets for Dieppe Le Tréport are being manufactured by Navantia, a major Spanish shipbuilding and engineering company.
- Several other French companies play a key role in both wind farms’ supply chain — like Louis Dreyfus Armateur, a French shipowner involved in subsea cable installation, and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, based in Saint-Nazaire, which is responsible for building the two offshore substations.
Long-Term Opportunities Through O&M
Ocean Winds is also investing in permanent infrastructure to support the operational phase of its projects. In Dieppe, construction is underway at sea and on land.
- The Operations & Maintenance (O&M) base for Dieppe Le Tréport is being built entirely by local and regional companies and is expected to create 70 long-term jobs in the region—a great contribution to the energy transition in Normandy.
- Another base is being established on the Yeu island itself, to support the Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore wind farm, reinforcing Ocean Winds’ commitment to local job creation and long-term presence in the Vendée region.
- Further south, the EFGL floating wind project has selected Port-La Nouvelle in Occitanie as the site for its O&M base, marking a first for this rapidly growing Mediterranean port. Supporting some of the most powerful turbines ever installed on floaters, the base will generate 15+ local jobs and further establish Port-La Nouvelle as a strategic centre for the future of floating offshore wind in France.
Environment
Ocean Winds is at the forefront of the offshore wind industry to ensure the sustainability of marine environments through its development. In France, this means including tailor-made initiatives to develop projects that not only produce clean energy, but also support marine biodiversity, reduce environmental impact, and promote responsible coexistence with other sea users. From pioneering nature-inclusive infrastructure to partnering on forward-looking research, Ocean Winds is helping shape a sustainable future for offshore wind.
Pioneering Nature-Inclusive Floating Wind
Ocean Winds is leading the way with the world’s first nature-inclusive floating offshore wind farm. At our EFGL pilot project in the Mediterranean, we installed 32 Biohuts® — artificial marine nursery habitats developed by Montpellier-based ECOCEAN — directly onto one of the project’s floaters.
These innovative structures mimic natural habitats, fostering biodiversity and supporting young marine life. The initiative builds on years of collaborative research and marks a global first in integrating ecological enhancement into floating offshore wind. This initiative follows the success of the BoB (Biodiversity Observation Buoy) and OCG-Data, two floating monitoring platforms that demonstrated the ecological potential of offshore infrastructure. These projects revealed increased biodiversity, strong habitat connectivity, and new species settlements — proving the value of integrating ecological design at sea. Lessons from BoB and OCG-Data are now being applied at EFGL, positioning Ocean Winds at the cutting edge of environmental innovation in offshore wind.
Collaborative Marine Research & Innovation
Ocean Winds works with scientists, engineers, and local actors to pioneer research-driven solutions that benefit marine life and coastal communities.
- A key example is our involvement in LincBioMer, a collaborative project led by Coopération Maritime to develop biodegradable fishing gear that reduces ocean plastic pollution and ghost fishing. This effort supports the circular economy and strengthens coexistence between offshore wind and traditional sea users.
- We are also trialing sustainable cable protection solutions at our Yeu-Noirmoutier site through the DELTAMAR project, led by ECOCEAN in partnership with Arcelor Mittal and the University of Perpignan. Instead of concrete or quarried rock, Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slag, a by-product of steelmaking, is being tested as a durable, low-carbon alternative. After two years of chemical, sediment, and biological monitoring in the Mediterranean, the material showed no harmful impact on marine ecosystems — offering a scalable and sustainable alternative for future marine infrastructure.
Environmental Assessments and Safeguards
Ocean Winds works closely with marine users, research institutions, and local partners to promote science-based environmental practices. In France, our Environmental Impact Assesments (EIAs) are guided by by the French Environmental Code and the Avoid–Reduce–Compensate (ERC) framework.
For example, at Yeu-Noirmoutier and Dieppe Le Tréport, we have implemented over 16 targeted environmental measures including:
- Birdlife: Wide turbine spacing aligned with migratory routes; minimizing light pollution, and restoring nearby wetland habitats.
- Marine Mammals: Real-time acoustic and visual monitoring and enforcing strict noise limits during construction.
- Sustainable Engineering: Use of eco-designed cable protection (e.g., BOF-slag modules at Yeu-Noirmoutier) to minimize seabed impact and reduce carbon-intensive materials.
Fisheries
Maintaining strong relationships with sea users is essential to Ocean Winds, especially with fishing communities.
For example, at Dieppe Le Tréport, we worked closely with local fisheries to revise the turbine and cable layout based on detailed risk assessments and maritime activity. Key mitigation measures included:
- Avoidance strategy: Excluding high-sensitivity fishing areas such as the Dieppe ridges and the "Creux" zone.
- Optimized cable alignment: Designing cable routes in line with prevailing currents to minimize interference with fishing operations.
- Widest turbine spacing in France: Ensuring at least 1 km between turbines to allow safe and easy navigation for fishing vessels.
- Focus on innovation: Partnering on initiatives like LincBioMer, which develops biodegradable fishing gear to reduce marine plastic pollution and ghost fishing.
This approach now serves as a model for co-development across our projects in France.
Regional and Local Engagement
Ocean Winds is committed to early and continuous engagement with local communities. Across our projects, we build strong ties with regional stakeholders, support local businesses, and create spaces for public dialogue. From high-profile partnerships to grassroots involvement, our presence is designed to reflect and reinforce the identity, values, and long-term interests of the territories where we operate.
Rooted in Regional Identity: Yeu-Noirmoutier & Vendée
Through our Yeu-Noirmoutier project, Ocean Winds has formed strong ties with the Vendée region.
- Vendée Énergie, a public-private energy company created by the SYDEV and the Vendée Departmental Council, is a shareholder in the project, reflecting a shared commitment to regional energy independence and national renewable energy goals. The region is also home to the world-renowned Vendée Globe sailing race, which Ocean Winds has supported for over a decade — a partnership that reflects our common values around the ocean, innovation, and sustainability.
- Since 2015, Yeu-Noirmoutier has also proudly partnered with local skipper Benjamin Dutreux, a native of the island of Yeu. As an ambassador for the project, Benjamin represents the values of resilience, responsibility, and performance — on the water and in the energy transition. His commitment to the environment and work with youth outreach has helped reinforce the project’s presence across the region.
Creating Local Value & Engaging Communities
Building a strong, inclusive local supply chain not just for construction and operations, but also through community-facing initiatives is key in involving the communities we operate in.
These partnerships reflect Ocean Winds’ broader commitment to sourcing locally, supporting regional expertise, and promoting inclusive employment — reinforcing that our projects deliver real benefits on land as well as at sea.
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