Offshore wind: approbation of a 63€Bn French scheme supporting construction and operation of 11 windfarms

The European Commission has approved a €63Bn French State aid to support the construction and operation of 11 offshore windfarms, in the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the institution announced on 13/07/2026. The scheme will run for 25 years.

The windfarms are expected to have a "combined capacity of up to 11.1 GW and to generate up to 47.8 TWh of renewable electricity per year, or around 10.6% of France's annual electricity consumption".

The aid will be granted through a "transparent and non-discriminatory bidding process, which France will organise".

The aid will take the form of a variable premium under a two-way contract for difference (‘CfD'), which will be calculated by comparing a reference price, determined in the tender offer of the beneficiary (‘pay as bid'), to…