On 13 July 2026, the European Commission formally approved France’s State aid scheme for offshore wind power. Over the next 25 years, up to €63 billion will be invested to support the construction and operation of 11 offshore wind farms. This marks the largest green aid package ever approved by the European Union and the biggest support policy in France’s offshore wind history.
According to the European Commission’s announcement, France’s offshore wind State aid scheme will back 11 offshore wind farms located across three marine zones: the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with a maximum total installed capacity of 11.1 GW. Once completed, these projects are expected to generate 47.8 TWh of electricity annually, equivalent to roughly 10.6% of France’s total annual power consumption.
The 11 offshore wind projects will be advanced in parallel, comprising four bottom-fixed developments and seven floating wind schemes, each set to deliver approximately 5 GW of installed capacity.
Four bottom-fixed offshore wind projects:
Fécamp Grand Large 1: Off the coast of Normandy, 1.35 GW
Fécamp Grand Large 2: Off the coast of Normandy, 1.35 GW
Fécamp Grand Large 3: Off the coast of Normandy, 1.35 GW
Oléron 1: Waters off Île d’Oléron in the South Atlantic, 1.2 GW
Seven floating offshore wind projects:
Bretagne Nord Ouest: Northern Brittany, 1.2 GW (zone pending final confirmation)
Bretagne Sud 2: Southern Brittany, 500 MW
Narbonnaise Sud-Hérault 2: Mediterranean Sea, 500 MW
Golfe du Lion Centre 1: Gulf of Lion, Mediterranean Sea, 2 × 550 MW
Golfe du Lion Centre 2: Gulf of Lion, Mediterranean Sea, 1.1 GW
Golfe de Fos 2: Gulf of Fos, Mediterranean Sea, 500 MW
In terms of funding mechanisms, aid will be allocated via tender procedures in the form of a variable premium under two-way Contracts for Difference (CfDs). This design effectively offsets electricity price volatility and guarantees stable returns for project operators.
Bids must be submitted by 12 October 2026, with winning developers set to be announced between late 2026 and early 2027. For the first time, the tender incorporates European local content as an evaluation criterion. Requirements stipulate that most wind turbine components shall be manufactured within the European Economic Area while complying with relevant environmental and cybersecurity standards.
To facilitate delivery of the aid scheme, under the France 2030 investment plan, the French government has selected five ports — Cherbourg, Brest, Nantes-Saint Nazaire, Port-la-Nouvelle and Marseille-Fos — and allocated nearly €260 million for infrastructure upgrades. The upgrades will cater to manufacturing, assembly and deployment activities for floating wind projects, supporting France’s target of deploying 6 GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2040.
France’s cumulative installed offshore wind capacity stands at roughly 2 GW at present. The newly unlocked 10-GW-scale pipeline represents nearly five times its existing capacity. Through this tender round, the French government aims to lift offshore wind capacity to 10 GW by 2030 and further to 15 GW by 2035, gradually reducing its sole reliance on nuclear power.
