TotalEnergies and RWE Win Major Offshore Wind Tender
A consortium led by TotalEnergies and RWE has emerged victorious in the Centre Manche 2 (AO8) offshore wind tender, as announced by the French Ministry of Industry and Energy. This ambitious project will see the development of a 1.5GW offshore wind farm situated 40 kilometers off the Normandy coast. Once operational, it will stand as France’s largest renewable energy initiative, generating around 6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, enough to power over one million households.
Project Details and Economic Impact
The Centre Manche 2 offshore wind farm is set to be a game-changer for renewable energy in France. With a competitive electricity price of €66 per megawatt-hour (MWh), approximately $77.54/MWh, the project aims to deliver affordable renewable energy to the French market. TotalEnergies will take the lead as the project operator, conducting essential studies to finalize investment decisions by early 2029. The electricity production is slated to commence in 2033, aligning with the grid connection schedule established by RTE.
Despite the positive outlook, RWE has indicated its intention to exit the consortium as part of a strategic investment review, pending approval from French authorities. However, TotalEnergies is committed to advancing the project independently, assuming all consortium responsibilities and seeking a new partner to join the initiative.
Financially, the project represents a significant investment of €4.5 billion, approximately $5.3 billion, which is expected to yield substantial economic benefits for the Normandy region. During the three-year construction phase, the project is anticipated to create up to 2,500 jobs, further boosting local employment and economic activity.
