France has launched four pilot projects in technologies off its coasts and, last May, issued a first commercial call for tenders specifically aimed at floating wind power.

Alongside Scotland, France is also a pioneer. France has launched four pilot projects in these technologies off its coasts and, last May, gave the starting signal to a first commercial call for tenders specifically aimed at floating wind power. Located off Belle-Ile-en-Mer (Morbihan), it should see the light of day by 2028. For France, which does not yet have any commercial wind farms off its coasts, this offensive aims to a technological leap in an attempt to make up for lost time. From the antipodes, Emmanuel Macron sent a message of reserve to the wind industry at the end of July, advocating during his stay in French Polynesia a “case by case” policy for conflicting projects. But meanwhile, energy and oil companies are accelerating and preparing for the new revolution in the sector. In mid-July, they jostled - submitting no less than 74 competing bids - to apply for what could become the first large-scale commercial floating wind farm in the world. This one must sail off the Scottish coast, with a potential installed power estimated at 5 gigawatts! In the running, the giants of offshore wind power such as Orsted or Equinor, but also the oil companies Shell, TotalEnergies, Eni or even the major European energy companies Engie, EDPR, EnBW, Vattenfall...