The companies said in statement they’d pool expertise and investment alongside Nass&Wind Offshore, the French developer of wind at sea, Poweo ENR, a unit of renewables company Poweo and Wpd Offshore, an arm of the German wind company.
France opened bidding for five offshore wind projects on Monday. The government is accepting proposals for the development of wind projects with a combined capacity of 3 GW. It’s seeking to generate 23 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
France gets 38 percent of its electricity from atomic plants, the most in the world, and is seeking to boost renewable energy such as solar and wind. The country, which has no offshore wind power now, proposes to install 6,000 megawatts, or about 1,200 wind turbines, by 2020.
“In addition to the evolution of the energy mix in France, the aim is to build a French industry sector and become a leader in offshore wind and marine renewable energies,” Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet said in the statement.
France will open a second round in April 2012, according to the statement, with ministers beginning a consultation to locate zones for that segment. Candidates must submit proposals for the first round by Jan. 11 followed by pre-selection in April.
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