Calvados Offshore Wind Farm Delayed to 2027
EDF, the French energy giant, has announced a significant delay in the commissioning of the Calvados offshore wind farm, now slated for late 2027. This marks a postponement of over two years from its original launch date in 2025. The delay stems from challenges in developing a specialized drilling tool essential for the project’s progress.
Challenges in Development and Installation
The Calvados project, which will boast a capacity of 450 megawatts, is designed to supply electricity for over 630,000 households. However, EDF has encountered setbacks related to a high-capacity drilling system crucial for securing monopiles in the seabed, which ranges from 20 to 31 meters deep. Saipem, the contractor responsible for installing these monopiles, plans to resume work in August, contingent upon receiving final certification for the drilling tool.
Despite the delay, EDF emphasizes that the construction hold-up is not due to the seabed conditions. The company asserts that the soil characteristics align with prior geophysical and geotechnical studies conducted during earlier drilling phases. However, earlier this year, Saipem faced issues with the installation of the 64 monopiles, citing soil complications that hindered progress. While those challenges were reportedly resolved, work was subsequently halted due to the ongoing development of EDF’s drilling equipment.
Progress on Infrastructure and Future Plans
In 2023, progress was made with the installation of the offshore electrical substation, which is now connected to the onshore electricity grid. This component was managed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Deme, marking an important milestone in the project’s infrastructure development.
Despite the delays, EDF’s agreements for power purchase and grid connections with the transmission operator RTE remain intact. As the wind farm moves towards its revised commissioning date, stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, hopeful for advancements that will lead to the timely completion of this significant renewable energy initiative.
