Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been awarded a contract by Iberdrola affiliate Ailes Marine to construct the 496MW Bay of Saint Brieuc offshore wind project on the English Channel off the coast of Saint Brieuc Bay, France.
Estimated to cost $2.8bn, the Bay of Saint Brieuc offshore wind project will generate electricity enough to meet the daily power needs of more than 835,000 homes.
Under the contract, SGRE will supply and install 62 units of SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines for the wind project. The order also includes a 10-year maintenance agreement for the wind turbines.
Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit CEO Andreas Nauen said: “We are extremely excited to add France to the many markets around the world where our offshore wind turbines contribute to providing clean energy and combatting climate change.
“Making Bay of Saint Brieuc Siemens Gamesa’s first firm offshore order in France is a historic moment and a testament to our dedication to growth in the market, and to driving the globalization of offshore wind energy.”
Siemens Gamesa plans to produce the main components of the 62 turbines including nacelles and blades for the wind project at its proposed offshore wind turbine factory in Le Havre, northern France’s Normandy region.
Scheduled for completion in 2023, the project is being developed by Ailes Marines, a consortium of Iberdrola, RES Group, and the French public sector financial institution Caisse des Dépôts.
Iberdrola international offshore business director and Ailes Marines president Javier García Perez said: “By selecting Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s 8 MW wind turbines, Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm secures a best-in-class, high-performance technology.
“Ailes Marines is fully committed to the development of the French offshore wind industry, which is creating thousands of high-skilled jobs, driving the green economic and industrial recovery of France and contributing to delivering the renewables-led net-zero targets.”