Construction to start on Noirmoutier et Îles d’Yeu wind farm after years of delays

The offshore project is being developed by Ocean Winds — a joint venture of Portuguese utility EDP Renewables and French utility Engie — alongside investors Sumitomo Corporation, the Banque des Territoires bank and renewables firm Vendée Energie.  

The group announced today (6 April) that a final investment decision had been made for the project, which totals around $2.5 billion, paving the way for construction to begin. 

The 496MW Noirmoutier et Îles d’Yeu offshore wind farm is located between 11-16km off Saint Nazaire on France’s Atlantic coast, at depths of between 17-35 metres according to Windpower Intelligence, the data and research division of Windpower Monthly. 

Developers placed an order in 2021 for turbine manufacterer Siemens Gamesa to supply blades and nacelles from its factory in Le Havre, Normandy. 

The project first secured tender in 2014 before Ocean Winds was founded, but was then beset by legal challenges from associations and local traders in the years following.

Ocean Winds said in a statement construction would now proceed with initial offshore operations commencing this summer and construction of turbine foundations beginning in Spring 2024. 

The developers expect the project to be commissioned in the second half of 2025. They claimed that it will create 1,600 direct jobs during its construction and, once operational, supply power to around 800,000 people in the region.