October 24, 2016
France

Eight associations appeal permit of EDF offshore wind park

By Mariyana Yaneva | SeeNews | Oct 24, 2016 | renewables.seenews.com

Eight associations have filed an appeal against a 450 MW offshore wind park project which EDF (EPA:EDF) plans to build off the cost of Normandy, northern France.

The associations are appealing the “installation and operation” permit issued by the local authorities at Calvados in June.

The Courseulles-sur-Mer project is being developed by EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), the renewables arm of EDF, in cooperation with Canadian energy company Enbridge Inc (TSE:ENB).

The investment is valued at about EUR 1.8 billion (USD 1.96bn). Its 75 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW, will spread on a surface of 50 square kilometres, some 10 km off the coast.

When fully operational, the wind farm is expected to produce enough electricity to meet the demand of 630,000 people, or about 40% of the current consumption in Lower Normandy.

According to the associations, the wind farm’s “too visible” turbines will “destroy” the emblematic site of the Normandy landings (during World War 2) which is applying to enter the UNESCO World Heritage site list.

EDF’s two other offshore wind projects the 480 MW Saint-Nazaire project (Loire-Atlantique) and the 498 MW Fecamp (Seine-Maritime) are also facing court appeals of their permits, issued in June.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/10/24/eight-associations-appeal-permit-of-edf-offshore-wind-park/