Corio and Qair consortium selected to bid for French fixed offshore wind tenders
Energies du Méridien is the name for a new consortium announced by Corio and Qair
Consortium has qualified to bid for two fixed-bottom offshore wind projects
AO7 and AO8 sites together comprise around 2.5 GW for delivery by 2032
Energies du Méridien, the name for a new offshore wind consortium by leading developers Corio Generation and Qair, has been selected by the French government to participate in upcoming project tenders totalling about 2.5 GW, it was announced today.
The consortium has been shortlisted by the French Directorate General for Energy and Climate for two fixed-bottom offshore wind tenders that were launched in parallel in December 2022. The tenders are for the AO7 site off the Ile d'Oléron coast reserved for an installed capacity of about 1,000 MW, as well as the AO8 site off the Normandy coast representing about 1,500 MW.
The Energies du Méridien consortium has been formed to support the acceleration of France’s offshore wind and maritime energy industries. The consortium aims to develop innovative new offshore windfarms and invest in local supply chains and port infrastructure. This will help France meet its net zero by 2050 goal, while creating employment opportunities for local communities.
Mark Giulianotti, Head of Europe of Corio Generation said: “We’re proud to be selected by the French government to compete in these two important fixed-bottom offshore wind tenders. These projects, once built, will play a vital role in helping France meet its net zero commitments, including a goal of delivering 40 GW from offshore wind by 2050.
“Energies du Méridien combines Corio’s unmatched global offshore wind expertise and access to capital with Qair’s longstanding experience in renewable energy development and roots in the French market. Together, we have the world-class capabilities to ensure that France can take full advantage of the green industrial revolution and deploy next-generation offshore wind at scale.”
Guirec Dufour, Managing Director of Qair France said: “We are delighted to be working with Corio Generation again on these two tenders. This association continues to demonstrate the complementarity of our skills and our shared commitment to the energy transition in France.
“This confirms Qair Group’s offshore strategy initiated in 2016 around the Eolmed pilot project and already recognised in its commercial deployment with the award of 2 GW in Scotland. We are convinced that Energies du Méridien’s competitive offer will bring a new robust foundation to the emerging edifice of a French offshore wind industry.”
This is the second consortium Corio and Qair have formed for French offshore wind tenders. Corio and Qair have also joined forces with TotalEnergies to create the floating offshore wind focused AEM consortium, which was selected in August 2022 to participate in two ongoing tenders to develop sites AO5 in Brittany and AO6 in the Mediterranean Sea. This means that Corio and Qair are both part of consortia that have qualified for four separate competitive offshore wind tenders in France.
In its announcement of 27 March 2023, the French government confirmed the allocation of the two offshore wind projects for AO7 and AO8 will take place at the beginning of 2024, with commissioning scheduled for 2032.
About Corio Generation
Corio Generation is a specialist offshore wind business, dedicated to harnessing renewable energy worldwide. With a unique blend of sector-leading expertise and deep access to long-term capital, we work closely with our partners in the creation and management of projects from origination, development and construction, and into operations.
Our 20+ GW offshore wind development portfolio is one of the largest in the world, spanning established and emerging markets, as well as floating and traditional fixed-bottom technologies. These next generation offshore wind projects will help form the backbone of the net-zero global energy system while meeting the energy needs of communities and corporate offtakers sustainably, reliably, safely and responsibly.
Corio Generation is a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management operating on a standalone basis.
For more information visit coriogeneration.com and follow us on Twitter @CorioGeneration
About Qair
Qair is an independent renewable energy producer developing, financing, building, and operating solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric, tidal energy, waste-to-energy and green hydrogen production and storage projects.
With more than 1 GW of capacity in operation or under construction, the group's 550 employees are developing a portfolio pipeline of 30 GW in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Africa. Our ambition is to become an independent leader in responsible energy.
Qair and Renewable Marine Energies
Qair is a frontrunner in the floating wind energy sector with Eolmed, a 30 MW floating offshore wind pilot farm off Gruissan (Aude) and in the tidal energy technology with FloWatt, the first pilot tidal turbine farm in France and the most powerful in the world. Qair also managed the maintenance and operation of FloatGen, the first French floating wind turbine.
For more information visit Qair.energy
Media contacts
Corio Generation
Will Henley, Head of Communications
Phone: +44 7840 850 183
Email: will.henley@coriogeneration.com
Qair