In June 2005, France published its National Energy Policy – the cornerstone of which is an ambitious increase in the use of renewable energy sources. Within the next four years, the production of electricity via renewable energy sources should jump from 15% today to 21%. The only response to the challenge is wind turbines.
With its extended coastline, France should rank second in the EU in the production of energy from wind turbines, which could potentially satisfy 30% of France’s electricity needs.
Yet France barely ranks in 9th place in the EU with less than 1,000MW produced, far behind Germany and Spain with respectively 18,428MW and 10,027MW.
The French environment agency, together with the maritime government agency is currently completing a study to determine optimal wind turbine locations along the coast but there are several technological hurdles. Given the cost of maritime installation (roughly double land installations), the French authorities are also subsidizing research into improving offshore wind turbine output.
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