HIghlights
- Full operation of the Îles d'Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm (EMYN).
- First power generated by the Floating Offshore Wind Farm of the Gulf of Lion (EFGL).
- Demonstration of industrial expertise in both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind.
Via Ocean Winds, its 50/50 joint venture with EDP Renewables dedicated to offshore wind, ENGIE reaches two major milestones in the deployment of offshore wind in France, with the final turbine installation and full operation of EMYN and the start of electricity production at the EFGL pilot floating wind farm.
These achievements illustrate the Group's ability to deliver ambitious offshore wind projects, leveraging complementary technologies fixed-bottom and floating in support of France's energy transition and sovereignty.
Yeu and Noirmoutier Islands Offshore Wind Farm (EMYN) now fully operational
Off the coast of Vendée, EMYN has reached a decisive milestone with the installation of its final turbine, marking the completion of offshore construction works. This was achieved within three years from the start of works, despite a complex industrial environment and challenging weather conditions.
Developed and operated by Ocean Winds in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, Allianz, Banque des Territoires and Vendée Énergie, EMYN is the joint venture's first offshore wind farm in France to reach full operation. Its 61 fixed-bottom turbines, delivering a combined capacity of 500 MW, now generate renewable electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 800,000 people.
The project has made a significant contribution to the emergence of a leading French and European offshore wind socio-industrial ecosystem, creating nearly 2,400 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase and mobilizing more than 200 companies from the Pays de la Loire region for the manufacturing of key components.
As the wind farm enters its long-term operation and maintenance phase, 80 long-term direct jobs will be created, including 66 based on the island of Yeu.
Gulf of Lion Floating Wind Farm (EFGL) delivers its first electricity
At the same time, EFGL, located 16 kilometers off the coast of Port-la-Nouvelle (Occitanie), has injected its first megawatt-hours into the French electricity grid, paving the way for full commissioning in the coming weeks.
Comprising three 10 MW turbines installed on floating foundations, EFGL demonstrates the technological maturity of floating offshore wind and its ability to adapt to the specific conditions of deep offshore environments. Once fully operational, the wind farm will generate nearly 110,000 MWh per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 50,000 people.
Developed in partnership with Banque des Territoires, the project has relied on a robust and sustainable local supply chain throughout its development and construction phases: around 85% of the direct suppliers involved are French companies or located in France, and 60% are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Now in operation, the project already supports more than 20 jobs dedicated to electricity production monitoring and maintenance activities, anchoring long-term local economic activity in Port-la-Nouvelle.
EFGL also stands out for its innovative environmental approach, as the world's first floating offshore wind farm to integrate artificial marine habitats (Biohut®), designed to promote biodiversity. As a pilot project, EFGL represents a key step towards the commercial scale-up of floating offshore wind in the Mediterranean.
ENGIE, via Ocean Winds, operates the WindFloat Atlantic wind farm in Portugal, which uses floating offshore wind technology, in operation since 2020.
A leading offshore wind player, with a strong project portfolio in France
Via Ocean Winds, ENGIE is a leading offshore wind player worldwide. In France, the joint venture is the majority shareholder in four offshore wind farms at various stages of development, representing a total capacity of 1.3 GW equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 2 million French households:
- EMYN - Îles d'Yeu and Noirmoutier: a fixed-bottom offshore wind farm of around 500 MW, now fully operational.
- EFGL - Floating Offshore Wind Farm of the Gulf of Lion: a 30 MW pilot floating wind project, currently being commissioned, with full capacity expected by June 2026.
- EMDT - Dieppe Le Tréport: a fixed-bottom offshore wind farm of around 500 MW, currently under construction. Half of the jacket foundations and the offshore substation have already been installed at sea. The wind farm is expected to feed its first electrons into the grid by the end of the year.
- EFLO - Éoliennes Flottantes d'Occitanie: a 250 MW floating offshore wind project in the Mediterranean, awarded in late 2024 and currently under development.
Paulo Almirante, ENGIE Senior Executive Vice President in charge of Renewable & Flexible Power, said: "With the end of construction at the Îles d'Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm and the first megawatt-hours generated by the Gulf of Lion floating pilot project, ENGIE is reaching a decisive milestone in the development of offshore wind in France. These achievements highlight our ability, through Ocean Winds, to industrialize complementary technologies fixed-bottom and floating and to master the entire value chain, relying on a mature supply chain, strong partnerships and long-term territorial roots. These achievements demonstrate that offshore wind power can be scaled up effectively to drive national energy sovereignty and support a competitive transition to clean energy."
