The highest court of appeal in France has rejected the final appeals against EDF Renouvelables’ 450MW Courseulles and 498MW Fecamp offshore wind farms in the English Channel, clearing the way for construction.
The Council of State ruled against cases taken by environmental organisations against the concessions and construction permits for the sites off Normandy.
The plaintifs included the groups Libre Horizon, Belle Normandie Environnement, Robin des Bois, Societe pour la protection des Paysages et de l’Esthetique de la France, Association Federation Environnement Durable and Association de Protection du Site des Petites-Dalles.
EDF Renouvelables is developing both projects in the EMF consortium, which includes Enbridge and WPD.
The latter’s offshore development director Brice Cousin said: “This is excellent news for WPD which started developing the projects 12 years ago. This rewards the work by the whole team, which stays mobilised and is now looking forward to construct these projects.”
EMF is expected to reach financial close in the near future.
Construction works at the offshore wind farms are set to kick off in 2022 and wrap up in 2023.
The council cleared the 480MW Saint-Nazaire of all appeals earlier this year.
Earlier today, the Council of State also rejected two appeals against Iberdrola’s 500MW Saint-Brieuc wind farm off the north-west coast brought by an environmental group and rival developer Nass & Wind.
The cases centred on the tendering procedure and the operating licence for the projects, according to the court.
The court meanwhile awarded Nass & Wind €2.5m in compensation due to the “irregularity” of the tender for the project, which was held in 2012.
Judges ruled that a criterion for awarding the project based on realisation of five sites tendered was not provided in the invitation to tender.
However, this does not have any impact on the characteristics of the site, added a statement.
Other appeals against the project are still before the courts, it is understood.
Iberdrola is the main shareholder in Ailes Marines, which is developing the project. Other companies in the consortium include RES and Caisse des Depots.
The developer said: “Ailes Marines and its shareholders – Iberdrola, RES and Caisse des Depots – have learned with great satisfaction of the decision of the Council of State concerning the offshore wind project of Saint-Brieuc.
“This excellent news for the industrial sector reinforces the solidity of the project, whose development continues according to the announced programme, with a start of construction in 2021 and a commissioning in 2023.”