France has officially announced the full commissioning of Provence Grand Large Offshore Wind Farm (PGL) — the first floating offshore wind farm in both France and the Mediterranean basin. Located 17 km off the coast of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône in the Gulf of Fos (Bouches-du-Rhône), this pioneering project marks a major technological and environmental milestone.
With a capacity of 25 MW, the wind farm will generate clean energy equivalent to the annual electricity needs of 45,000 people, helping accelerate France’s transition to renewable energy sources.
Also read: Ørsted Discontinues Hornsea 4 Offshore Wind Project — What Does It Mean?
A Technological First: Floating Wind Innovation
Provence Grand Large Offshore Wind Farm is a pilot project that introduces cutting-edge floating wind technology to the region. It consists of three Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW wind turbines, each installed on tension leg floating platforms, a first-of-its-kind adaptation of deep-sea oil platform stabilization technology for wind power.
The innovative platform design was developed by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN). These floating foundations are tethered to the seabed with high-tension mooring lines, allowing them to operate efficiently in deep waters of around 100 meters.
Grid Connection with Dynamic Cables
Electricity generated from the turbines is transported via dynamic cables designed by Prysmian, capable of flexibly adapting to the motion of the floating platforms. These cables connect to subsea infrastructure, which then links to a land-based station operated by RTE, ensuring stable energy transmission to the grid.
FACTSHEET: Provence Grand Large Floating Offshore Wind Farm
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Provence Grand Large Offshore Wind Farm(PGL) |
| Type | Floating Offshore Wind Farm (Pilot Project) |
| Location | 17 km off Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Gulf of Fos, France |
| Water Depth | ~100 meters |
| Commissioning Date | End of 2023 (Fully operational in 2024) |
| Capacity | 25 MW |
| Energy Supply | Equivalent to 45,000 people’s annual electricity consumption |
| Turbines | 3 × Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW turbines |
| Platform Technology | Tension-leg floating platforms (SBM Offshore + IFPEN) |
| Mooring System | Tethered to seabed using high-tension lines |
| Cable System | Dynamic cables by Prysmian |
| Grid Connection | Via subsea and terrestrial cables to RTE onshore station |
| Client/Operator | Parc Éolien Offshore de Provence Grand Large (PEOPGL) |
