The European Investment Bank EIB announces the conclusion of three financing agreements, with the support of the European Commission, for installing and commissioning three floating offshore wind farms off the French Mediterranean coast. These projects will help accelerate the energy transition in France and foster the emergence of a new generation of floating offshore wind platforms. Each project is based on a different innovative technology, and all of the floating wind turbines are anchored to the seabed by means of underwater cables.
This innovation means that the turbines can be installed further away from the coast in areas where wind exposure is optimal, and also limits the ecological footprint of the projects.
Eolmed, the second project, is developed by independent electricity producer Qair and will be installed more than 18 km off the coast of Narbonne in the Aude department in the Occitanie region. This pilot farm will consist of three 10 MW Vestas wind turbines installed on semi-submersible barge floats. The turbines will be connected to the electricity transmission system by a submarine cable.
Finally, the westernmost project is the Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion project. The project consists of three 10 MW Vestas wind turbines installed on floats.
Its launch is scheduled for the end of EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle said: "These three loans for the first floating offshore wind farms in France are fully in line with the EIB's strategy of providing massive support for the development of renewable energy and the energy transition in Europe.
