March 6 (UPI) -- French and Spanish energy companies said Monday they were setting their sights on building up the wind energy potential off the coast of France.
French energy company ENGIE counts an installed wind power capacity of more than 1,700 megawatts in France and is now teaming up with its Spanish counterpart, EDPR, on plans to install as much as 750 MW of wind power offshore.
According to ENGIE, offshore France is one of the most attractive parts of the world for offshore wind and the two companies have already pre-qualified for further developments.
"Already a leader in on-shore wind, we hope to show, with this bid, that we are actively contributing to the consolidation of a French offshore wind industry, whether free-standing or floating," Gwenaelle Huet, a managing director for ENGIE's renewable division, said in a statement.
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ENGIE and EDPR have already worked together off the coast of France and in the Mediterranean.
France has a goal of using renewable energy to satisfy about a quarter of its energy consumption through renewable energy by the end of the decade and establish itself as a regional leader in wind power technology. According to the French company, the government set a goal of establishing 3,000 megawatts of free-standing offshore wind energy by 2023.
France has one of the least carbonized electricity sectors among members of the European Union. Wind power lagged behind other forms of renewable energy, however, with most of it coming from hydroelectric resources.
ENGIE built up its partnership with Credit Agricole Assurances, the leading insurer, by absorbing the onshore wind power portfolio held by Maia Eolis. The company completed an acquisition of Maia Eolis, which specialized in wind farm construction and development, in May.
