BayWa r.e. chief executive Matthias Taft said the Pennavel project “will act as a reference point for future floating windfarms” (source: BayWa r.e)
A consortium between Elicio and BayWa r.e has won France’s AO5 tender for what is billed as the first commercial-scale floating offshore windfarm
The winners of the AO5 tender were announced by Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno le Maire and Industry Minister Roland Lescure on 15 May 2024.
The award is the outcome of a competitive tender initiated in 2021 for a floating wind project with of 230-270MW off the coast of Lorient in Brittany.
The Pennavel floating offshore wind project developed by Elicio, which is based in Belgium, and BayWa r.e, which hails from Germany, will be the first commercial-scale floating windfarm to be awarded a long-term contract for difference.
In line with the French government’s ambitious goal to commission 45 GW of offshore wind by 2050, the Pennavel project will play a pivotal role driving the floating wind industry in France.
Elicio chief executive Alain Janssens said, “We are extremely pleased to be awarded the AO5 tender. We are confident that we will contribute to the success of competitive floating offshore projects in France, combining sound project execution with a unique local footprint.”
BayWa r.e. chief executive Matthias Taft said, “This is a proud moment for the consortium, and as we begin a new chapter for BayWa r.e. in the floating offshore industry, we are excited to be working on such a game-changing project, which will act as a reference point for future floating windfarms around the world.”
