RWE and Valorem have signed a partnership agreement to jointly respond to the call for tenders for an up to 1GW offshore wind project off the French island of Oléron.
The AO7 site will be located 40km from shore and commissioning is due in the 2032-2033 timeframe.
The project area covers a maximum area of 180 square kilometres and has an average water depth of about 60 metres and will host France’s furthest wind farm from the coast.
The selected area is also outside the Gironde Estuary and Pertuis Sea Marine Natural Park, which was advocated by RWE and Valorem previously.
The call for tenders was launched in October 2022 and the winner will be announced in 2024.
RWE and Valorem will jointly participate in the competitive dialogue, the next step in the tender procedure following prequalification.
RWE’s director France offshore wind energy Pierre Peysson said: “We already have more than 200 employees in France, present throughout the country and bring to the daily life all the expertise of a group resolutely committed to the development of renewable energies.
“As the most experienced operator in offshore wind in France, we are proud to join forces for this call for tenders with Valorem, a key player in the territory where the future offshore wind farm will be located.”
Valorem deputy chief executive Bertrand Guidez added: “Valorem is a pioneer in green energies in France with nearly 30 years of experience in the development of regional energy resources.
“As a company with a mission, Valorem likes to develop innovation around its projects – whether in citizen financing, professional integration or environmental preservation solutions.
“We are particularly proud of this partnership, especially with a renowned player as ambitious as RWE, which concretely affirms our position as a co-investor in the development of offshore wind projects.
“We will try to carry out together a real territorial project and submit a robust, competitive and attractive offer.”