Sep 7 2010
France, a country known for meeting its electrical power requirements from its widespread nuclear power production facilities, has late started extending its support for wind energy and other types of renewable energy products.
The news reports available over various websites indicate that Jean-Louis Borloo, the Environment and Energy Minister of France is anticipated to declare the intention of the government during the month of September to call for tenders for offshore wind turbine projects that may require up to 600 wind turbines.
According to reports from Agence France Presse, the government is planning to call for tenders for a value of € 10 billion to construct 3,000 MW offshore wind energy capability at five to ten locations in Brittany, Normandy, parts of Pays de la Loire and Languedoc by the year 2015. The government is planning to increase the offshore wind production capability to 6000 MW by the year 2020. France as a country has the second biggest wind potential and its wind resources are well spread all over the country. Currently the country has installed over 4500 MW of wind power and the French wind energy market is rated as the fourth leading market in Europe after Germany, Spain and Italy.
The wind energy market witnessed 41% growth to 1088 MW in its new wind farm installations during the year 2009 and generated around 7.8 TWh of electric power but still represents only 1.6% of its total power consumption.
Source: http://www.afp.com