From MaritimeJournal
France has launched one of Europe’s largest offshore wind procurement rounds, opening the door to a decade of work for vessel operators, port infrastructure providers, equipment suppliers and marine contractors.
The French Government has published the specifications for its 10th offshore wind tender round (AO10), covering 11 projects with a combined capacity of around 10GW, evenly split between fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind developments.
The projects will be spread around France’s coastlines and represent a notable expansion of the country’s offshore market, with the government targeting around 15GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2035, up from 2GW currently in operation and 4.8GW under development.
France has launched one of Europe’s largest offshore wind procurement rounds, opening the door to a decade of work for vessel operators, port infrastructure providers, equipment suppliers and marine contractors.
The French Government has published the specifications for its 10th offshore wind tender round (AO10), covering 11 projects with a combined capacity of around 10GW, evenly split between fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind developments.
The projects will be spread around France’s coastlines and represent a notable expansion of the country’s offshore market, with the government targeting around 15GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2035, up from 2GW currently in operation and 4.8GW under development.
Fecamp launched in 2024 was among France's largest wind farms to date while TotalEnergies is now developing a massive 1.5 GW project near Le Havre (Fecamp)The scale of the programme will create opportunities for crew transfer vessel (CTV) operators, service operation vessels (SOVs), heavy lift and installation vessels, cable-lay contractors, port operators and quayside logistics providers, particularly as France accelerates deployment of floating wind alongside traditional fixed-bottom projects.
The offshore jack-up installation vessel 'Vole au Vent' with a crane for assembling wind turbines is seen at the offshore wind farm located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coasts of the Yeu and Noirmoutier islands, western France, April 2, 2026.
REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Purchase Licensing Rights
Floating projects typically require more complex towing, mooring installation, anchor handling and offshore support operations, potentially broadening demand beyond the traditional wind vessel fleet and into offshore energy tonnage.
The French Government said the tender marks a ‘change of scale’ in the country’s offshore wind ambitions and is intended to provide a more stable and predictable framework for industrial investment.
Bid evaluation will now place greater emphasis on industrial robustness and European supply capability, potentially benefiting manufacturers and suppliers with established regional operations.
For ports, the programme could trigger additional investment in marshalling facilities, heavy-lift quays, storage areas and fabrication capacity, particularly in regions positioned to support floating wind assembly.
Developers have four months to submit bids, with the French energy regulator expected to assess proposals in early 2027 ahead of contract awards planned for February 2027.
The French government will also hold technical webinars in the coming weeks covering wind measurements, geotechnical surveys and environmental baseline studies for prospective bidders.
The French Government said the tender marks a ‘change of scale’ in the country’s offshore wind ambitions and is intended to provide a more stable and predictable framework for industrial investment.
Bid evaluation will now place greater emphasis on industrial robustness and European supply capability, potentially benefiting manufacturers and suppliers with established regional operations.
For ports, the programme could trigger additional investment in marshalling facilities, heavy-lift quays, storage areas and fabrication capacity, particularly in regions positioned to support floating wind assembly.
Developers have four months to submit bids, with the French energy regulator expected to assess proposals in early 2027 ahead of contract awards planned for February 2027.
The French government will also hold technical webinars in the coming weeks covering wind measurements, geotechnical surveys and environmental baseline studies for prospective bidders.
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