The Centre Manche 2 offshore wind is the biggest project of renewable energy in France, awarded to TotalEnergies, which has a capacity of 1.5 GW. The RWE consortium won the bid with 66/MWh, which is a 4.5 billion investment that is more than 40 kilometers off the coast of Normandy. The groundbreaking project will provide 6 TWh yearly, supplying more than a million households in France and generating 2,500 construction jobs, as well as economic growth in the region by the year 2033.
TotalEnergies wins the biggest project in renewable energy in France
According to TotalEnergies’ press release, the Ministry in charge of Industry and Energy has chosen the consortium of TotalEnergies and RWE to win the Centre Manche 2 (AO8) tender on offshore wind farms. The consortium shall design, develop, construct, and run a 1.5 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm off the coast of Normandy.
When completed, it will produce about 6 TWh annually and provide clean energy to over 1 million French households. The rate at which the electricity will be sold is a competitive price of 66/MWh as stipulated in the tender. The project will be headed by TotalEnergies, which will need its experience in offshore wind projects and the management of large-scale marine power projects. By the beginning of 2029, the Company will proceed with the required research to make a final investment decision.
RWE puts the strategic exit of the partnership into consideration
RWE has stated that it would like to pull out of the consortium as part of a strategic review of its investments, pending approval by the French authorities. It will be carried out by TotalEnergies, which will assume all the commitments of the consortium and make an offer to introduce a new partner into the project.
The project will be a likely investment of 4.5 billion euros and a huge economic positive impact in the Normandy region. During the construction period of three years, up to 2,500 people will be employed, and TotalEnergies has promised to provide 500,000 hours of work to apprentices and persons in professional reintegration. TotalEnergies is also going to involve the ecosystem of the local economy, which already has established experience in offshore wind.
The European industry will also gain as TotalEnergies plans to use mostly the European suppliers, especially in wind turbines and electrical cables. Pierre Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said: “We are very proud to have won this tender for the construction of the largest renewable energy park in France to date.” Such an undertaking will be the biggest TotalEnergies investment in France in decades.
Environmental commitments ensure sustainable development standards
TotalEnergies will invest in avoidance, reduction, and offsetting measures to the impacts of the project at a cost of €45 million, and invest in a fund that will help to promote biodiversity in Normandy to the tune of €15 million. TotalEnergies has made this project exemplary in the way of recycling the offshore wind farm parts, with 95 percent and 100 percent of the blades, towers, and nacelles, and 100 percent of the generator magnets, recycled.
TotalEnergies will introduce crowdfunding financing, which will enable the local inhabitants and authorities in the Normandy region to invest in the project and to contribute to the energy transition of their territory directly. Moreover, TotalEnergies will allocate a €10 million territorial fund to help promote projects in training, education, and culture in Normandy.
The Centre Manche 2 project is a paradigm shift in the renewable energy scene of France: it is a large-scale investment with detailed environmental and social obligations. The fact that TotalEnergies is leading this initiative of costing 4.5 billion euros reflects how the firm is strategically shifting to sustainable energy solutions and supporting the economic growth of the region.