EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the EDF Group, Enbridge (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB), a leading energy infrastructure company in North America and wpd, a European producer of renewable energies, announce the start of construction on the wind farm in the Fécamp Sea. This announcement follows the signing over the weekend of all financing agreements between the consortium and its financial partners.
With a capacity of 500 MW, the Fécamp offshore wind farm will be made up of 71 wind turbines located between 13 and 22 km off the coast. Its commissioning is planned for 2023. It will then produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 770,000 people, or more than 60% of the inhabitants of Seine-Maritime. The project will employ a total of more than 1,400 local jobs. During the 25 years of operation, around a hundred long-term local jobs will also be created in the port of Fécamp to ensure the maintenance of the installations.
The total investment cost of the project is estimated at 2 billion euros. The majority will be financed by non-recourse debt for the project. The Fécamp offshore wind farm benefits from a 20-year power purchase contract (PPA), granted by the State in June 2018.
The consortium has signed contracts for the supply of the required materials with leading service providers, including:
- Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) for the 71 wind turbines;
- Bouygues Construction, with Saipem and Boskalis for their foundations;
- Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with GE Grid Solutions and SDI for offshore electrical substation.
RTE is responsible for connecting the park, from the substation to the coast and then to the Normandy electricity network and will start its work on land in June.
In Le Havre, the SGRE wind turbine manufacturing plant, construction of which is due to begin during the summer, will create 750 jobs. The foundation manufacturing site
gravity systems for wind turbines will also be launched this summer on the Grand Port Maritime site and will involve around 600 people. The port of Cherbourg will host the wind turbine assembly site. These orders come at the right time when the country intends to relaunch its activity after two months of confinement.
This project is based on extensive consultation carried out for more than ten years with local stakeholders (State services, elected officials from the Normandy Region, the Department of Seine-Maritime, coastal communities and local residents' associations). In-depth environmental studies were carried out in close collaboration with local nature and environmental protection associations. Specific work was also carried out in collaboration with fishermen to allow the different maritime activities to coexist on the site.
Each of the project's shareholders benefits from extensive experience in the field of offshore wind power and in the management of large-scale industrial projects:
- EDF Renewables which owns 35% of the project through the company Eolien Maritime France, brings its know-how in the development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects, particularly in the offshore wind sector. The company has a portfolio of 6.5 GW of offshore wind projects at various stages of advancement in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, the United States and China.
- Enbridge Inc. which owns 35% of the project through the company Eolien Maritime France, is a North American company among the leaders in the energy infrastructure sector. In addition to its 1,392 MW net renewable energy portfolio in Canada and the United States, the company is investing in Europe in several large offshore wind projects in development, construction and operation. In total, Enbridge has 1.8 GW of net operating renewable energy capacity.
- wpd offshore which owns 30% of the project, is among the pioneers and leaders in offshore wind power. The group has already put 3 parks into service in Germany, and recently made the final investment decision for its wind power project. 640 MW in Taiwan. The company has a portfolio of 7.4 GW of offshore wind projects under development in Europe and Asia.
Bruno Bensasson, Executive Director of the EDF Group in charge of the Renewable Energy Sector and Chairman and CEO of EDF Renewables declared: “We are very pleased to announce today the launch of the construction of EDF’s second French offshore wind farm in Fécamp. I would like to salute the professionalism of our teams and the mobilization of local stakeholders, who have been working together for years to respond to the energy and economic challenges of the Normandy territories. With four offshore wind projects already won, two of which are now under construction, EDF is consolidating its position as leader in the sector in France. We are proud to contribute to the creation of an industrial sector that creates value and jobs for the regions. These large-scale projects are part of EDF's strategy, which aims to double its renewable capacities worldwide between 2015 and 2030 to bring them to 50 GW net. This is also how we will build a CO2-neutral energy future.”
John Whelen, Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Enbridge added: “We are happy to mark this important milestone with our partners. The start of construction of Fécamp demonstrates our continued commitment to offshore wind development in Europe and positions us as a diversified leader in energy infrastructure. This investment is underpinned by a long-term power purchase agreement that is consistent with our low-risk business model. Enbridge is now investing in two offshore wind projects under construction and two in development in France, as well as two projects currently in operation in Germany and the United Kingdom. »
Achim Berge Olsen, Group Executive Director of wpd and Chairman and CEO of wpd offshore commented: “This is a big step for offshore wind power in Normandy and for the wpd group which is particularly attached to this project. More than 10 years ago now, when offshore wind power was only in its infancy in France, our team began extensive consultation with all the stakeholders on this technically very favorable site, in the aim of building a real territorial project. By reaching this important stage of financing and signing the main industrial agreements, we can now turn towards the realization of the project, which will make France the
3rd country where wpd is participating in the construction of an offshore wind farm, after Germany and our recent achievements in Taiwan. »
About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables is an international leader in renewable electricity with an installed capacity of nearly 12.5 GW gross worldwide. Its development is mainly focused on wind power and photovoltaic solar power. Mainly present in Europe and North America, EDF Renewables continues its development by taking a position in promising emerging markets such as: Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the Middle East. The Company, which is strongly positioned in the offshore wind sector, is also present in other renewable energy sectors such as energy storage. EDF Renewables ensures the development and construction of renewable energy projects as well as their operation and maintenance, for its own account and on behalf of third parties. EDF Renewables is the subsidiary of the EDF group
dedicated to the development of solar and wind energy.
For more information : www.edf-renouvelables.com
follow us on Linkedin and on Twitter @EDF_RE in French and @EDF_Renewables in English.
About Enbridge
Enbridge Inc. is North America's leading energy infrastructure company with strategic business platforms including an extensive network of crude oil, liquids and natural gas pipelines, regulated natural gas distribution utilities and production facilities. production of renewable energy. The Company safely delivers more than 3 million barrels of crude oil through its Mainline and Express Pipeline. This volume represents approximately 62 T3T of Canadian crude oil exports to the United States. Additionally, by serving major supply basins and markets, the company delivers approximately 18 % of all natural gas consumed in the United States. The Company's regulated utilities serve approximately 3.7 million retail customers in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Additionally, Enbridge has interests in renewable energy facilities with over 1,700 MW of net generating capacity in North America and Europe. The Company's common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges under the symbol ENB.
About wpd AG
Producer of 100% renewable electricity, the wpd group develops, finances, builds and operates wind farms (on land and sea) and photovoltaic solar farms (on the ground or on roofs). Founded in 1996 in Germany, wpd is present in 25 countries and employs 2,700 people worldwide. wpd benefits from an installed power greater than 4.7 GW, distributed
between onshore wind power, offshore wind power and photovoltaic solar power, as well as a portfolio of projects under development, all energies combined, greater than 19 GW. www.wpd.de
PRESS CONTACTS
EDF Renewables:
Manon de Cassini-Hérail ▪ tel. : +33 (0)1 40 90 48 22 ▪ email: manon.decassini-herail@edf-re.fr
Enbridge:
Mandy Dinning ▪ email: media @enbridge.com
WPD:
Alison Aguilé ▪ email: a.aguile@wpd.fr
Enbridge Forward-Looking Information
Forward-looking information, or forward-looking statements, have been included in this press release to provide information about Enbridge and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including management's assessment of the future plans and operations of its subsidiaries and subsidiaries. This information may not be suitable for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "intent", "target", "believe", “probable” and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding a prospect. Forward-looking information or statements included in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the Fécamp Offshore Wind Farm (the “Project”), including the benefits, anticipated employment, costs and the project's schedule and its anticipated power generation capacity. Although Enbridge believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available on the date such statements are made and the processes used to prepare the information , these statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements involve a variety of assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially. of those expressed or implied by these statements. Assumptions regarding expected energy supply and demand, and prices, are important to and underlie all forward-looking statements because they may impact current rental and future energy levels. demand for Enbridge's services and the Project. Likewise, exchange rates, inflation, interest rates and the COVID-19 pandemic impact the economies and businesses in which Enbridge operates and may impact demand levels for Enbridge's services and the Project, as well as the cost of inputs and are therefore inherent in all forward-looking statements. Due to interdependencies and
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