Eight months after being awarded the project by the French State, TotalEnergies’ wholly owned project company Centre Manche Energies has officially applied for the Single Authorization of the 1.5 GW offshore wind farm, which will be sited off the coast of Normandy. This marks a significant milestone in the development of France’s largest renewables project.

“We are delighted to have filed for authorization and to have reached this major milestone for Centre Manche Energies. We would like to thank our technical partners and regional stakeholders, as well as the authorities, for their hard work. We intend to continue developing this competitive, value-creating project for Normandy, which will provide renewable electricity to nearly one million French homes”, said Thierry Muller, Project Director for Centre Manche Energies.

Finalization of the initial surveys

In line with regulatory requirements, the application includes technical and environmental surveys, a preliminary design for the wind farm, and the planned installation program. The environmental impact assessment takes account of the findings of the aforementioned surveys, regular discussions with government departments, and the contributions gathered through the consultation process carried out with regional stakeholders.

The project’s next steps

The permitting process is now entering a new phase, starting with completion of the dossier followed by its examination by the government. At the same time, Centre Manche Energies will pursue consultation with local officials, environmental organizations, seafarers, and the public to ensure the project is well integrated into the region’s economy and community.

A major French electricity project

Located more than 40 km off the Normandy coast, this will be the largest renewables project ever developed in France. Once built, it will generate around 6 TWh per year and supply enough green electricity to power more than one million French homes.

The project represents an investment of €4.5 billion and will generate significant economic benefits for the local region, employing up to 2,500 people during the three-year construction phase. TotalEnergies also plans to make use of the local workforce, which has specialist expertise in the offshore wind sector.

The project will also benefit European industry, as TotalEnergies intends to focus sourcing on European suppliers, particularly for wind turbines and electric cables.