Eoliennes en Mer de Dunkerque (EMD) and RTE have announced their decision to move ahead with development of a 600MW offshore wind farm project off Dunkirk, France.
The offshore wind project was awarded in June 2019 by the French state to the EMD consortium, made up of EDF Renouvelables, Enbridge and RWE Renewables (Innogy at the time).
The project will comprise 46 wind turbines located in an area of less than 50 square km and will produce electricity at €44 per megawatt hour.
EMD and RTE plan to submit their authorisation applications in the second half of 2021.
This decision was taken following the end of the public debate that ended on 20 December 2020 by the Special Commission for Public Debate (CPDP).
In February 2021, the CPDP, appointed by the National Commission for Public Debate, published its report on the debate and its recommendations for the attention of the contracting authorities of the Dunkirk offshore wind project.
EMD, owner of the offshore wind farm, and RTE, owner of the electrical connection of the park, have jointly decided to continue the development of the project, in accordance with several commitments.
These include installation of the first wind turbines 11.4 km from the coastal communities east of Dunkirk, from the original 9km.
These include conducting a continuous process of information and participation with the local population and all French and Belgian stakeholders throughout the life of the project, including the authorisation, construction and operation phases.
This consultation will be carried out on biodiversity and environment, economy and employment, use of the sea, professional fishing and marine cultures, as well as tourism criteria, through working groups and public meetings.
Other commitments include strengthening measures in favour of biodiversity, with an environmental impact study due to be carried out with the expertise of several biodiversity and nature groups and with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
An avifauna detection radar will also be installed soon in the port of Dunkirk.
Impact studies and environmental measures will be shared with the public and associations.