EDF Group sells stake in three offshore wind farms projects off the French coast to Enbridge

EDF Energies Nouvelles, EDF Group subsidiary, has announced a new partnership agreement with Enbridge that covers the development, construction and operation of three French offshore wind farms, totaling 1,400 MW of installed capacity.

Through this agreement, Enbridge acquires a 50% stake in Eolien Maritime France (EMF), the company controlling the three future offshore wind farms. EDF Energies Nouvelles and Enbridge will be co-owners (50/50) of EMF.

Pursuant to the first call for tenders organised by French authorities, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ subsidiary, EMF, was awarded 3 offshore wind projects in 2012:

• Eoliennes Offshore des Hautes Falaises, with an expected capacity of 498 MW off the coast of Fécamp (English Channel);
• Parc du Banc de Guérande, with an expected capacity of 480 MW off the coast of Saint-Nazaire (Atlantic coast);
• Eoliennes Offshore du Calvados, with an expected capacity of 450 MW off the coast of Courseulles-sur-Mer (English Channel).

Following an extensive local consultation and broad engineering and environmental studies performed since 2011, these three projects are progressing as planned. Construction is expected to start gradually from 2017.

Jean-Bernard Lévy, President and Chief Executive Officer of EDF said:

 “Our subsidiary EDF Energies Nouvelles and Enbridge Inc. will work together to drive the future of the French offshore industry. The vision we share in development strategy and the complementary nature of our combined expertise will be the foundation to a strong collaboration. These major future wind farms will provide to our customers a low-carbon, reliable and decentralized energy. This is a fine example of what the Energy Transition for Green Growth law is trying to promote in France and it fits perfectly with CAP 2030, the strategy of the Group for the forthcoming years which aims at doubling its renewable energy capacity by 2030.”

Antoine Cahuzac, Senior Executive Vice President in Renewable Energies of EDF and Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles added:

“EDF has made another decisive step towards strengthening the development and efficiency of our renewables assets portfolio in France today. EDF Energies Nouvelles, through the development of these future offshore wind farms, will provide substantial economic benefits to France and create many jobs during construction and operations. This gives further evidence of the key role it plays in the renewable energy sector, in the country.”

CEO and President of Enbridge Inc., Al Monaco concluded:

“This is a unique and strategic opportunity for Enbridge to further our investment in Europe’s rapidly growing offshore wind generation business. We’ve established an excellent partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles in a number of North American onshore wind farms. Our investment in EMF is a natural extension of that partnership and we look forward to strengthening our relationship as co-developer in these important renewable energy projects.”