France is advancing in the development of offshore wind energy, currently having 1,500 MW in operation, 1,500 MW under construction, and 1,900 MW in development through the AO3, AO4, and AO5 auctions, while continuing to grow in the sector with the launch of new mechanisms.

Regarding the 3 GW from the AO6, AO7, and AO8 auctions, the winners are expected to be announced between this month and April next year.

Recently, the French government published a map with priority areas for offshore wind project installation and announced the launch of a new AO10 auction with a capacity ranging between 8 and 10 GW, which will be awarded in the autumn of 2026. Additionally, a few weeks ago, it published the 12 pre-selected projects for the upcoming AO9 tender.

Rafael Menéndez Cuiñas, Senior Principal and Global Head of Offshore Wind at AFRY Management Consulting, assures that France’s long-term plan for offshore wind development provides security and competitiveness in the sector, and that there are 16,000 km², representing over 80 GW, identified for future developments from 2030 to 2040. “Most of the area for floating wind energy is in the NAMO region,” he states.

“Having a long-term vision helps suppliers define a business plan, reach agreements with suppliers, and, thanks to that, scale capacities and reduce costs. The more information a developer has, the more competitive they will be,” says Menéndez in a conversation with Energía Estratégica España.

Pre-selected Candidates for the AO9 Auction

On November 15th, the French government published the pre-selected list for the AO9 auction, which supports a capacity of 2,700 MW spread across four projects: Bretagne Sud 2, Golfe de Fos 2, Narbonnaise 2, and Oleron 2.

Now, a dialogue process with the administration begins, and the auction winner will be known in August of next year, according to the specialist.

“This mechanism includes a competitive dialogue between the administration and developers, which helps define the rules and minimize risks,” explains Menéndez Cuiñas. The final results will be known in September 2025, following the submission of bids in August.

The pre-selected projects in the AO9 mechanism are divided into three regions: the Mediterranean (Narbonnaise 2 and Golfe de Fos 2) with 1,000 MW, a park in the South Atlantic with 1,200 MW, and one in southern Brittany with 500 MW.

The twelve pre-selected promoters to present in the final auction and invest in the development of these four offshore wind farms are: BayWa Re, EnBW Valeco Offshore, Iberdrola, Octopus Energy, TotalEnergies, RWE, Sky Renewables, Parkwind, a consortium formed by Elicio Group, Q Energy, and Kansai Electric, a group formed by EDF Renewables and Maple Power, another one by Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires, and a consortium formed by Oxan Energy and Ingka Investments.

Expectations for the Upcoming AO10 and AO11 Auctions

Additionally, the French government has already identified the areas for the AO10 and AO11 auctions, which could lead to significant developments up until 2050. Menéndez Cuiñas emphasizes that “long-term planning is key to attracting investments and reducing costs through more solid supply agreements.”

For the AO10 round, 9.2 GW is expected, of which 4 GW will be fixed and 5.2 GW floating, distributed across the four offshore wind areas, with MENM leading in terms of capacity. Meanwhile, AO11 foresees 6.3 GW, with 4 GW fixed and 2.3 GW floating.

“Auctions for floating technology are starting, not just in France. This is truly an innovative technology. In recent weeks, the first of the floating pilot products, which are much smaller, has been placed. It will likely take more time from winning the auction until it is in operation, likely more than 7 or 8 years,” Menéndez analyzes.

Projections Toward 2050

France’s commitment to offshore wind energy is evident in its ambition to reach up to 18 GW in operation by 2035 and 45 GW of installed capacity by 2050. According to Menéndez Cuiñas, “France is meeting the deadlines” in terms of launching new auctions.

“It is crucial to meet the deadlines to ensure that at least the calls for tenders happen. Then, of course, whether the park enters operation on one date or another is often no longer the regulator’s responsibility but the developer’s, and the possible issues they faced during development. But it is at least essential that the auction calls occur as planned,” he emphasizes.

“France is not only focused on achieving its 2030 goals but also on establishing a robust and sustainable offshore wind sector beyond that date,” concludes Menéndez Cuiñas. This approach, combined with mechanisms like CfDs and strategic planning, positions the country as a key player in the offshore wind sector.