DEME and Eiffage awarded EPCI foundation contract for the first offshore wind farm in France
A consortium including DEME and Eiffage Métal has been awarded a major EPCI contract for 80 foundations at the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm in France. The scope includes the design, fabrication and installation of the steel foundations. The consortium contract has a total value of more than EUR 500 million.
The 480 MW Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm, owned by EDF Renewables and Enbridge, will be located between 12 km and 20 km off the coast of the Guerande peninsula in western France. Water depths for the installation range between 12 and 25 metres.
Design activities already kicked off in order to start the production of the foundations in spring 2020. The first foundations will be installed offshore, in rocky seabed conditions, during spring 2021, with completion being planned in summer 2022.
The wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply 20% of the Loire-Atlantique department‘s power.
“We are honoured to be awarded the first major EPCI foundation contract in France and to contribute to the country’s ambitious energy transition targets,” says Jan Vandenbroeck, General Manager French Subsidiaries at DEME. “The contract highlights our technical expertise in providing innovative solutions for the offshore wind industry. The Saint-Nazaire project will deliver drilled monopiles, a new step forward in the offshore wind industry.”
“Eiffage is very proud to contribute to the first offshore wind farm in France”, said Antoine Brésolin, General Manager at Eiffage Métal. “Already involved on this market in North Europe, where Eiffage Métal, through its subsidiary Smulders, has gathered lots of references for offshore wind farms in Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and the Netherlands, our Group will now develop its know-how in French waters. We look forward to working with EDF Renewables and Enbridge to complete this project safely and by integrating its environmental features.”
DEME is a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and experience and has fostered a pioneering approach throughout its history, being a front runner in innovation and new technologies. While the company’s roots are in Belgium, DEME has built a strong presence in all of the world’s seas and continents, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals across the globe. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, backed by a broad range of auxiliary equipment, the company can provide solutions for even the most complex projects. In 2018 turnover of DEME reached 2.65 billion euros.
