France Releases Details for a Mega-Scale, 11-Project Offshore Wind Tender

Fecamp launched in 2024 was among France's largest wind farms to date while TotalEnergies is now developing a massive 1.5 GW project near Le Havre (Fecamp)

Published Jun 11, 2026 9:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

The French government is set to release the specifications for its next offshore wind tender, which seeks to develop 11 projects spanning each of France’s water borders and achieve 10 GW of capacity. The Ministry of Energy is calling it one of the largest offshore wind development programs ever undertaken in Europe.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) will release the specifications on June 12, detailing five fixed bottom projects to provide 5 GW and an additional 5 GW from five floating wind farms that can be placed further from shore. It notes that the tender, which has been delayed since 2024, combines its ninth and tenth rounds to AO10, which “truly marks a change of scale.”

France currently has approximately 2 GW of installed offshore wind energy capacity. The government’s goal is to reach 15 GW by 2035 and 45 GW by 2050. In addition to the installed capacity, 4.8 GW is currently in the development pipeline.

 

Preliminary map showing the scope of the projects proposed for AO10 (CRE)

 

“The development of offshore wind power is one of the pillars of France’s energy and climate strategy,” said the Energy Ministry. It notes that the program is designed to ensure energy availability at a controlled cost and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Its goal is to ensure France’s energy sovereignty.

The tender aims to establish a weighted average price of €100 per MWh. Observers note it is significantly above the €66 per MWh awarded to TotalEnergies in the last fixed-bottom tender, but below the anticipated cost of projects using less developed technologies.

Companies will have four months to submit their proposals to CRE. It will analyze the bids and issue its opinion by the beginning of 2027.

One new element added to the tender process is scoring for projects that favor European manufacturers and minimize the use of components sourced from China. It will give the highest scores to projects using French manufacturers and suppliers, and also consider the promotion of low-carbon projects.

The Ministry for Energy is expected to award contracts in February 2027.

 

WTIV Loses Control in Danish Port Damaging Blades for Offshore Wind Farm

Port of Esbjerg has become a key hub for staging and supporting offshore wind vessels (Esbjerg)

Published Jun 11, 2026 4:04 PM by The Maritime Executive

High winds and poor weather conditions are being cited as the likely cause for an incident in the Port of Esbjerg, Denmark, on Wednesday morning, June 10. Blades for an offshore wind farm were damaged, and the vessels, pier, and a crane were still being inspected, while the wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Brave Tern has been detained.

Estimates in the local media are that more than $150,000 worth of damage resulted as blades for the Thor wind farm were damaged as a result of the allision. The Brave Tern struck another docked installation vessel, Wind Keeper, before hitting the crane and the pier.

Initial reports said that no one was injured. Later, they, however, said that one person had been sent to the hospital for a medical checkup.

According to the Danish Maritime Authority and RWE, which has chartered the Brave Tern, the vessel had completed the load out with nine blades for the installation at the Thor wind farm. The Brave Tern was attempting to maneuver in the harbor when it was pushed into the other ship. 

 

 

The blades were damaged as the vessel clipped the docked vessel and was pushed up against a shore crane. According to the media reports, the value of each of the blades is approximately 3.6 million euros. Pictures showed the blades broken and bent over.

Thor, which began turbine installation in March, is located approximately 13 miles offshore. It will be Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm, consisting of 72 Siemens Gamesa 15 MW turbines. Installation is scheduled to be completed this year.

The Brave Tern is a 15,300 gross ton WTIV owned by Fred Olsen Windcarrier. Built in 2012, it is 132 meters (433 feet) in length and able to carry up to 9,000 tons of material. The jack-up vessel is registered in Malta. 

It struck the Wind Keeper (22,500 gross tons), which is owned by Cadeler and registered in the Marshall Islands. The 196-meter (643-foot) vessel was docked.

The Danish Maritime Authority ordered the Brave Tern detained after the allision. Both vessels, as well as the port infrastructure, were being inspected for additional damage.