Energy futuresLargest wind energy farm in France launched

Published 9 July 2008

EDF Energies Nouvelles to launch wind farm comprising 22 2.3 MW turbines supplied by German manufacturer Enercon; with a capacity to generate 50.6 MW, it will also be one of the largest in France

The French wind power developer EDF Energies Nouvelles is to construct one of the largest wind farms in France. Located in Villesèque-des-Corbières, the wind farm will comprise 22 2.3 MW turbines supplied by German manufacturer Enercon. Once built, it will be the most powerful wind farm in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. With a capacity to generate 50.6 MW, it will also be one of the largest in France. The turbines at the site, located in France’s first Zone de Développement Eolien (ZDE)*, will supply enough power for 75,000 people, or one and half times the population of Narbonne. This is the first in a series of wind energy projects which will be built in France by EDF Energies Nouvelles this year. Others will include the Chemin d’Ablis 52 MW farm and the Salles-Curan 87 MW farm.

EDF Energies Nouvelles has 483.6 MW of wind power plants in France that are currently either in service or under construction.

* Instaurées en 2005, les ZDE incitent les collectivités à penser globalement le développement des territoires dans le respect du patrimoine local. Elles permettent aux installations éoliennes de bénéficier de l’obligation d’achat de l’électricité produite à un prix fixé.