– Agreement reached for construction of first offshore direct current platforms and onshore converter stations for Normandy and Oléron Island offshore wind farms
– Unprecedented scale contract accelerates development of offshore farms in France
– Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Hitachi Energy consortium selected for execution of offshore and onshore conversion stations, marking a major step forward in the energy transition towards carbon neutrality.
This article describes a significant agreement between RTE, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and Hitachi Energy for the construction of offshore direct current platforms and onshore converter stations for offshore wind farms in Normandy and Oléron Island. The contract represents an acceleration in the development of offshore farms in France and the construction of large offshore high voltage direct current converter stations. These platforms are necessary to connect new generation offshore wind farms that are more powerful and located further from the coast. The use of direct current technology is required to transport electricity over long distances. The high voltage direct current transmission systems by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Hitachi Energy will enable the integration of over 3.5 GW of renewable energy into the RTE network. This contract, valued at €4.5 billion, highlights RTE’s industrial strategy and focus on supporting employment and value creation in France and Europe. The partnership between RTE and the Chantiers de l’Atlantique – Hitachi Energy consortium is crucial for advancing offshore wind projects and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.