France’s First Floating Offshore Wind Farm Now Fully Operational

The Provence Grand Large wind farm, the first floating offshore wind project in France and the Mediterranean, has been fully commissioned and is now supplying electricity to around 45,000 people.

The project is led by the EDF Group through EDF Renewables, in partnership with Enbridge Inc. and CPP Investments.

The pilot wind farm, located 17 kilometers off the coast of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, in the Gulf of Fos (Bouches-du-Rhône), has a capacity of 25 megawatts. The project features three floating wind turbines built by Siemens Gamesa, using technology never before applied in offshore wind.

Unlike traditional fixed-bottom turbines, these turbines sit on tension leg platforms- a system originally developed for stabilising oil rigs. The platforms were adapted for floating wind by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles.

This is the first time such technology has been used for floating offshore wind, and it opens new possibilities for deploying wind farms in deep-water zones.

Electricity generated from the turbines is transmitted to the mainland through dynamic cables designed by Prysmian. These cables move with the floating structures and are connected to subsea and terrestrial networks that deliver power to the onshore station operated by RTE.

🚨Spoiler alert 🚨

Le parc éolien en mer flottant de Provence Grand Large a été mis en service 🌊

L’utilisation de flotteurs à lignes d’ancrage tendues pour l’éolien en mer est une première mondiale et c’est en France 🥇 🇫🇷#renouvelables #éolien #PGL #DLDMars

— EDF (@EDFofficiel) June 5, 2025

The Provence Grand Large project began local consultations in 2011, involving authorities, fishermen, residents, environmental groups, and others. Their input led to environmental measures like bird detection systems and marine radar monitoring.

A government-established committee of scientific experts has been overseeing data collection and environmental monitoring since 2022. This data is also expected to support future floating wind projects.

The wind farm received backing from multiple public bodies, including the European Union (via NER 300 and Feder programs), France’s Investment for the Future Program (PIA), and the Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME). Regional support came from the South Region, the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, and all Gulf of Fos municipalities.

EDF Group’s CEO Bernard Fontana described the project as a key step in France’s energy sovereignty and an important milestone in developing an industrial sector around floating offshore wind. He also acknowledged the crucial role played by local communities and partners in making the project possible.

Enbridge Inc. executive Matthew Akman said the project would open new avenues for offshore wind and low-carbon energy, according to a company statement.

The company is now preparing to build its second floating wind farm, Méditerranée Grand Large, after securing the contract in December 2024. Both projects support France’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Reference: EDF