The first components of the 5MW floating turbine developed by EOLINK as part of the France-Atlantique project arrived at the port of Brest earlier this week.
The scheme will deliver the largest operational floating wind turbine on the French Atlantic coast to meet the energy needs for 6500 people.
The arrival of the inaugural components signals the beginning of assembly of the steel float and superstructures of the machine on the Marine Renewable Energies polder under the stewardship of BrestPort.
Collaborating with around 10 companies, EOLINK’s assembly process is poised to engage an 80-strong workforce, with work commencing in the spring on the delivery of prefabricated steel blocks.
On completion, the floating structure, measuring 52 metres on each side and standing at 150 metres, will be the largest of its kind on the French Atlantic coast.
Following assembly in the port of Brest, the turbine will embark on its journey to the test site off the coast of Le Croisic. With the anchors already installed in July 2023, the commissioning of the unit is scheduled for spring 2025. Once operational, the unit will produce approximately 14GWh per year.
“This monumental achievement is made possible through partnerships with Valorem and the Open-C Foundation, with support from ADEME as part of the government-backed France 2030 plan,” said EOLINK.
Company founder and chief executive Marc Guyot said: “EOLINK’s ambitions on the port of Brest are strong, and the manufacturing of our 5MW wind turbine on the polder constitutes a first concrete step towards an floating offshore wind industry off the Atlantic coast.
“The aim is to create an industrial sector that combines energy transition and reindustrialization.”
Chairman of the management board of BrestPort Christophe Chabert added: “This is an essential project for the Port of Brest.
“It allows BrestPort equipment to be ‘tested’ upstream of commercial parks and to include the port in this development of an industrial floating wind energy sector.
“It is also a regional project, to support a Brest SME in its desire to rely on BrestPort’s infrastructure and its network of subcontractors.”