France Launches Tenders for 12,000 MW of Renewable Energy – 10,000 MW Offshore Wind Power
Paris, France – The expansion of renewable energy continues to gain momentum in France. The French government has launched new tenders for a total of around 12 gigawatts (12,000 MW) of renewable energy. The main focus is on offshore wind power. With the expansion of offshore wind energy, France is pursuing a dual energy and industrial policy approach. On the one hand, the share of renewable energy is to increase significantly; on the other hand, nuclear power will remain an important part of the electricity supply. Among renewable energies, France is placing particular emphasis on the expansion of offshore wind power.
The New Renewable Energy Tender Program of the French Government
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the new tender program comprises around 12,000 MW (12 GW) of renewable generation capacity, including offshore wind energy projects with a total capacity of around 10 GW in seven development areas. Additional tenders cover solar energy (approximately 1,200 MW) and onshore wind energy (approximately 800 MW).
The aim of the tender initiative is to further strengthen energy independence and increasingly retain industrial value creation within Europe. France is explicitly pursuing an industrial strategy: in the future, so-called “resilience criteria” as well as the “Made in Europe” principle will be given greater consideration in order to reduce dependence on imports—particularly from China. In this way, France is implementing its long-term energy plan, which provides for a significant expansion of offshore wind power.
France traditionally has a high share of hydropower (25,524 MW). As of November 1, 2025, France had installed wind power capacity of 25,512 MW, solar capacity of 28,761 MW, and bioenergy capacity of 2,277 MW. In 2025, wind power generation in France reached approximately 48.5 billion kWh (2024: 45.4 billion kWh), representing an increase of 6.8 percent. Electricity generation from solar energy increased much more sharply. With 30.2 billion kWh of solar electricity, the previous year’s level (2024: 23.1 billion kWh) was exceeded by 30.7 percent. The strong increase in solar capacity is already leading to situations during periods of high solar feed-in in which nuclear power plants must be throttled back and their output adjusted flexibly. In addition to expanding renewable energy, France is also continuing to rely on nuclear energy. A total of six new nuclear power plants of the EPR2 type are planned. According to the French utility Électricité de France (EDF), construction is planned at the sites of Penly, Gravelines, and Bugey. A final investment decision has not yet been made, but is expected by the end of 2026. According to current plans, the first reactor at the Penly site is not expected to begin operation before 2038 at the earliest. The remaining reactors are then expected to be connected to the grid at intervals of 12 to 18 months. As already announced in March 2025 within the framework of the French Nuclear Policy Council (Conseil de politique nucléaire), the program will be supported by government measures, the basic principles of which were adopted in June 2025 and submitted to the European Commission for approval on November 19, 2025. The construction of the new French nuclear power plants will only be possible through government subsidies and financing models. According to EDF, these government measures range from a low-interest loan covering at least 50 percent of construction costs, to a 40-year guaranteed minimum remuneration for nuclear electricity in the form of a Contract for Difference (CfD) to stabilize power revenues, as well as risk-sharing between the French state and EDF.
New Nuclear Power Plants in France Not Before 2038
Source: IWR Online, Apr 04 2026