Wind power - 04/09/2012

Iberdrola and Eole-Res secure 500-MW Saint-Brieuc offshore wind power contract in France

The consortium formed by Iberdrola and the French company Eole-Res has been granted exclusive rights by the French government for construction and operation of the offshore wind farm of Saint-Brieuc of 500 MW in capacity.

The French government today announced its decision after considering the bids presented by a number of world-leading companies in offshore projects. The government placed special value on the industrial plan based on job creation and local production presented by the consortium led by Iberdrola.

The Saint-Brieuc wind farm will be one of the most important renewable energy facilities in the world, with 100 wind turbines of 5 MW in unit capacity.  It will be opposite the Saint-Brieuc bay, in the French region of Côtes d'Armor, and some 20 kilometers at sea. 

Iberdrola, which began to conduct wind and feasibility studies in this location several years ago, believes this is one of the best sites in the world for this type of renewable energy projects.

To carry out the project, the consortium has created the company Alas Marinas and it has contracted a number of leading French companies in offshore power. The start-up of this facility will boost employment throughout the coast of Bretagne, with creation of more than 2,000 jobs on average for the coming years.

Specifically, the company Areva will produce wind turbines for the farm at its Le Havre plant and it will also be responsible for maintenance of the turbines. Technip will install underwater cables and STX and Eiffage will lay the foundations and build the platforms for the turbines. Lastly, Neoen Marine will perform the environmental studies, which are key for a facility of this scale.

The first step in the project, which will last 18 months, will be to analyse the technical and environmental conditions of the site. During this time, the consortium must also establish an ongoing mechanism for co-operation with all users of the coastal waters in the area, with a view to achieving mutual decision-making among all parties. 

Start-up of the Saint-Brieuc wind farm will consolidate Iberdrola as a leader in the offshore wind power sector, with a project pipeline of more than 11,000 MW.