Enbridge dives into French offshore

North American energy company Enbridge has taken a 50% share in a 1.4GW portfolio of French offshore wind farms.

The new participant will partner with EDF on the 498MW Fecamp, 480MW Saint-Nazaire and 450MW Courseulles projects in the English Channel and Atlantic.

Enbridge will control 50% of existing development venture Eolien Maritime France under the terms of the deal.

Original partner WPD will remain involved with a separate 15% share in Courseulles and a 30% share in Fecamp. Danish company Dong Energy, which was a partner in EMF, has divested its interest.

EDF and Enbridge have partnered on Canadian wind projects since 2012. Construction of the French offshore trio is due to start from 2017.

EDF chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy said the companies “will work together to drive the future of the French offshore industry”. 

He added: “The vision we share in development strategy and the complementary nature of our combined expertise will be the foundation to a strong collaboration. These major future wind farms will provide to our customers a low-carbon, reliable and decentralized energy.

Enbridge counterpart Al Monaco said: “This is a unique and strategic opportunity for Enbridge to further our investment in Europe’s rapidly growing offshore wind generation business.

“We’ve established an excellent partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles in a number of North American onshore wind farms. Our investment in EMF is a natural extension of that partnership and we look forward to strengthening our relationship as co-developer in these important renewable energy projects.”

The company is already involved in the offshore wind sector through a share in Eon’s under-construction 400MW Rampion project in the UK.

Image: a met mast being towed to EMF’s Fecamp offshore wind farm site (Seatower)