New tender for offshore wind turbines in Dunkirk

Ségolène Royal, the French Minister for the Environment, Energy and Sea, has launched a third tender for the installation of an offshore wind farm off the coast of Dunkirk. This is an area identified as extremely favourable for this type of installation. The offshore wind must contribute to achieving the target of 40% renewable energy by 2030, a goal set under French law on energy transition. A decree and an order will be published soon, following a review by the Council of State on how to simplify this new procedure. This review is expected to leave companies facing procedures which are "adapted to the specificities of offshore wind", called "competitive dialogue procedures". It is hoped that this will give rise to dialogue with candidates for the project in order to have a better idea of ​​the project specifications and enable them to adapt and improve their offer during the process. Obtaining certifications should also be simplified, and specific studies on the risks of wind, wave and depth, among others, will be available to manufacturers so they can "refine their proposals." This is the third tender for wind energy at sea. The first, launched in 2011, resulted in the award of four areas on the Atlantic side, and the second, in 2013, resulted in the installation of 100 MW spread over two areas near the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier.