The French government has offered an offshore wind power contract to an association headed by EOLE-RES and Iberdrola, major energy operators, to develop a wind farm at the Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d’Armor).
EOLE-RES and Iberdrola selected AREVA, a wind turbine manufacturer, to construct 100 AREVA M5000 wind turbines, each with 5 MW of capacity, for the wind farm. The wind turbines will begin to function from 2017 to 2019 and will produce sufficient power to meet the electricity requirements of a town having about 650000 residents.
In 2009, the Alpha Ventus pilot wind farm project was began by AREVA at the North Sea, and by 2013 the company will complete over 120 wind turbine installations. The company will construct a turbine and blade manufacturing units at Le Havre, which will support the supply of its products to the North Sea and the Channel, which are the largest global market for offshore wind power. Almost 2000 jobs will be created through the company’s wind power dealings with suppliers and partners across France, with Brittany as the major focus area. Moreover, to create foundations for the wind turbines, the partners of AREVA have signed contracts with other French industrialists like STX in Saint-Nazaire.
According to Luc Oursel, the CEO of AREVA, the company is pleased to receive the recognition from the French government through the tender.
Source: http://www.areva.com/