France announces third offshore wind power tender

France will launch its third offshore wind power tender this week, after an announcement from the country’s Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal.

The tender is for an area off the coast of the northern region of Dunkirk, which has been identified as having favourable conditions for offshore wind development.

France’s previous two wind power tenders were awarded in 2012 and 2014 respectively and both covered areas near Dunkirk.

The first tender, in 2012, was for a total of 2GW capacity, representing an investment of about 7 billion euros (£5.6 billion).

The tender offered in 2014 was for 1 GW and an investment of around 4 billion euros (£3.2 billion).

France has not yet constructed any of its awarded offshore wind farms.