Marine contractor DEME, French renewables specialist Quadran and energy giant Shell have formed a partnership to bid for the right to develop the 500MW Dunkirk wind farm off northern France.
The venture known as Moulins de Flandre will enter the competitive dialogue for the project and file a bid early next year for the Round 3 zone site in the Channel.
The companies said they want to build a “competitive and ambitious” project.
If successful, Moulins de Flandre said it will build an operations and maintenance base in Dunkirk and provide 150 local jobs during the 25-year life of the project.
Credit Agricole is the financial council for the bid and the partnership is subject to approval of French authorities.
“We are pleased to associate our industrial expertise around the Moulins de Flandre project, to contribute to the global approach undertaken by the Dunkirk area in favour of an innovative and exemplary energy transition,” said the partners.
“We are also convinced that this project is a major opportunity to make Dunkirk an industrial showcase of offshore wind in France and create a sustainable economic sector, which is the pride of the territory.”
Moulins de Flandre has already met with local stakeholders and is aiming to tap into the supply chain knowledge of each of the founding companies.