Continued development of the Dunkirk offshore wind project and its electrical connection following the Public Debate

Click here to consult the entire Decision of the project owners Eoliennes en Mer de Dunkerque and RTE following the public debate on the Dunkirk offshore wind farm project and its connection to the electricity network

Dunkirk, Monday May 10, 2021 _ The company Eoliennes en Mer de Dunkerque (EMD) [for the offshore wind farm] and RTE (Electricity Transport Network) [for its connection to the land electricity network], announced their decision to continue the development of the offshore wind farm project off the coast of Dunkirk. This decision was taken at the end of the public debate carried out between September 14 and December 20, 2020 by the Special Commission for Public Debate (CPDP).

The Dunkirk offshore wind farm project was awarded in June 2019 by the State to the EMD consortium made up of EDF Renewables, Enbridge Éolien France S.à rl, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., and RWE Renewables (previously innogy) . With a maximum capacity of 600 MW, the project contributes to meeting the French government's energy transition objectives of reaching 40 % of renewable electricity production by 2030. It will produce, by 2027, decarbonized equivalent to the annual consumption of nearly a million inhabitants, or a third of the population of the Nord department.

In February 2021, the CPDP designated by the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) published its assessment of the debate and its recommendations for the attention of the project owners of the Dunkirk offshore wind project. EMD, owner of the offshore wind farm, and RTE, owner of the park's electrical connection, took note of these conclusions and jointly decided to continue developing the project.

The discussions during the nine public debate meetings which welcomed 1,100 local participants, as well as the numerous contributions on the dedicated website, made it possible to measure the expectations of the territory as well as certain points of attention relating to the project.

The development of the offshore wind project will continue in accordance with the following commitments:

• Conduct a continuous information and participation process with the local population and all French and Belgian stakeholders throughout the life of the project, including the authorization, construction and operation phases. This consultation will be carried out on 5 themes (biodiversity and environment, economy and employment, use of the sea, professional fishing and marine cultures, tourism), notably through working groups, public meetings and a digital exchange platform. ;
• Strengthen measures in favor of biodiversity : An environmental impact study will be carried out with the expertise of naturalist associations (GoN, Le Clipon, FNE) and with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. An avifauna detection radar will also soon be installed at the port of Dunkirk. Impact studies and environmental measures will be shared with the public and associations.
• Ensure landscape integration: The installation of the first wind turbines was moved back from 9 km to 11.4 km from the coastal communities east of Dunkirk, i.e. a distance increased by more than 25% compared to the installation area proposed in the call for proposals. offer. In the choice and installation of wind turbines, particular attention will be paid to their size.
• Position the project at the heart of Dunkirk’s economic, industrial, maritime and tourist developments.

The Dunkirk offshore wind farm project will mobilize, during the construction phase, 850 direct jobs and more than 3 times as many indirect and induced jobs in France and Europe. During the operation phase, around fifty direct and long-term local jobs will be created for the future maintenance base, which is planned to be installed at the Grand Maritime Port of Dunkirk, Quai des Monitors.

Made up of a maximum number of 46 wind turbines located in an area of less than 50 km², on a site which benefits from strong and regular winds and favorable seabed, this offshore wind farm project in Dunkirk presents a cost of very competitive electricity of 44€/MWh.

The electricity produced will be transported to the RTE network via a 20 to 25 km electrical connection which will connect an electrical substation at sea, bringing together the electrical cables from the wind turbines installed by EMD, to an electrical substation on land.

EMD and RTE plan to submit their authorization requests in the second half of 2021. A phase of continuous consultation, placed under the aegis of a guarantor appointed by the CNDP, will be put in place until a public inquiry, envisaged in the second half of 2021. semester 2022.

Bruno Bensasson, Executive Director of the EDF Group in charge of the renewable energies division and Chairman and CEO of EDF Renouvelables, said : “EDF is fully committed to contributing to the objectives set by the Government in the Multi-year Energy Program. The leading player in offshore wind power in France with 4 projects won out of the 7 already awarded by the State, EDF supports the development of this technology, which has made great progress and presents many advantages. Three of these projects are currently under construction along the French coast and provide numerous jobs. The EMD teams dedicated to the Dunkirk offshore wind farm project are committed alongside local stakeholders and local residents in order to make this economic, ecological and social project a showcase of the energy transition for the Dunkirk region, which combines efficiency energy and diversified mix. It is fully in line with EDF's CAP 2030 strategy, which aims to double its installed capacities from 28 to 60 GW net between 2015 and 2030.

Matthew Akman, Vice President, Strategy and Energy, Enbridge, added : “Enbridge is delighted to participate in this next phase of development of the Dunkirk offshore wind project. Active in the renewable energy industry in France since 2016, we are happy to extend our involvement in this project. We will continue to develop renewable energy activities in line with our rigorous capital allocation approach. This growing activity in our company also contributes to the low-carbon economic transition and confirms our leading position in the industry on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. ".

Xavier Piechaczyk, Chairman of the Management Board of RTE, said : “RTE becomes a central maritime industrial operator. Guarantor of the country's electrical solidarity, its role is to provide carbon-free electricity at all times, at the moment it is produced, wherever it is needed. It connects and supports the 15 French offshore wind projects. To do this, RTE is a developer who listens to the populations, serving the territories, which integrates its projects while limiting their footprint. ".

To find out more about the Dunkirk wind farm project, visit our dedicated site: https://parc-eolien-en-mer-dedunkerque.fr/ and its electrical connection https://www.rte-france.com/raccordement-dunkerque

About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables is an international leader in renewable electricity production with installed wind and solar capacity of 13.8 GW gross worldwide. 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. Historically active in onshore wind power and photovoltaics, the Company is now strongly positioned in offshore wind power and new technologies such as energy storage. EDF Renewables ensures the development and construction of renewable energy projects as well as their operation and maintenance. EDF Renewables is a subsidiary of the EDF group.
For more information: www.edf-renouvelables.com
Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edf-renouvelables and on Twitter @EDF_RE in French and @EDF_Renewables in English.

About ENBRIDGE INC.
Enbridge Inc. is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America. We safely and reliably deliver the energy that powers people's quality of life. Our principal businesses include the Pipelines sector, which transports approximately 25 % of crude oil produced in North America, the Gas Transportation and Midstream Services sector, which transports approximately 20 % of natural gas consumed in the United States, and the Distribution sector and gas storage, which serves nearly 3.8 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec, and the Renewable Energy Generation sector, which produces approximately 1,763 MW (net capacity) of renewable energy in America in the North and in Europe. The Company's common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges under the symbol ENB.
For further information: www.enbridge.com

About RWE Renewables
RWE Renewables is one of the world's leading renewable energy companies. With around 3,500 employees, the company has onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic power plants and energy storage facilities with a combined capacity of around 9 gigawatts. RWE Renewables is driving the expansion of renewable energy in more than 15 countries on four continents. From 2020 to 2022, RWE has set itself the goal of investing 5 billion euros net in renewable energy and increasing its renewable energy portfolio to a net capacity of 13 gigawatts. Beyond that, the company plans to continue its expansion into wind and solar energy. The focus is on the Americas, major markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information: www.rwe.com.

About RTE
RTE, Electricity Transmission Network, is a service company. Our fundamental mission is to ensure that all our customers have access to economical, safe and clean electricity. RTE connects its customers through a suitable infrastructure and provides them with all the tools and services that allow them to take advantage of it to meet their needs, with a view to economic efficiency, respect for the environment and security of supply. in energy. To this end, RTE operates, maintains and develops the high and very high voltage network. He is responsible for the proper functioning and safety of the electrical system. RTE transports electricity between electricity suppliers (French and European) and consumers, whether they are electricity distributors or industrialists directly connected to the transmission network. 105,000 km of lines between 63,000 and 400,000 volts and 50 cross-border lines connect the French network to 33 European countries, thus offering opportunities for electricity exchanges essential for the economic optimization of the electricity system. RTE employs 9,000 people.
For more information: https://www.rte-france.com – @RTE_nord

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
• RWE Renewables:
  Vera Bücker ▪ +49 (0)201 5179 5112 ▪ email: vera.buecker@rwe.com
• RTE:
  Anne-Sophie Pinon ▪ tel. : +33 (0)7 62 44 67 06 ▪ anne-sophie.pinon@rte-france.com
  Anais Thevenet ▪ tel. : +33 (0)7 62 20 08 49 ▪ anais.thevenet@rte-france.com