A group of French journalists were recently invited to EDPR in Portugal and were taken on a helicopter ride to see and learn about Windfloat, an innovative new type of offshore wind farm that has been developed by EDPR and its partners.
The Windfloat project was launched off the coast of Aguçadoura in Portugal in 2011. Now EDPR is in the final stage of a tender for offshore projects along with partners GDF Suez, Neoen Marine and AREVA.
One of the proposed wind farms in France would be placed off the coast of Normandy, while the other would be situated by the islands Yeu and Noirmoutier in western France. Each wind farm would generate 500MW. The projected output of the two wind farms would be enough to supply power to 1.6 million homes by 2021.
The outcome of the French public tender is expected to be known shortly. If the deal is approved, the proposed French offshore wind farms are expected to create more than 6,000 jobs and involve many local companies. The partners have already held meetings with over 400 companies across France representing the main players in the offshore wind power sector. The project will also benefit local ports, where the Windfloats will be constructed and where its operations and maintenance centers will be located.
The joint venture is strategic for EDP and its partners in order to position themselves in the French market, which has decided to invest heavily in renewables, with the aim to reach 6 GW by 2020.
"It was very important today to bring these journalists here to Portugal, for them to be able to see the Windfloat," said Frédéric Lanoe, EDP Renewable's manager in France, during the visit.
Raphael Titol, Project Manager at GDF Suez, echoed Lanoe's sentiments. "It is crucial to introduce them to EDPR , so that they realize that it is a very important player, and so that they can hear about EDPR's experience with offshore wind farming, and specifically the Windfloat technology ."
EDPR introduces French journalists to Windfloat in Portugal