Ocean Winds has begun delivering electricity from its 30 MW Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) floating offshore wind farm off the southern coast of France, marking the company's first operational floating wind project in the country and its second worldwide.

A Milestone for Floating Wind in France

The project, known as EFGL, achieved first power on May 4, 2026, and is now supplying renewable energy to homes and businesses across the South of France.

The wind farm is located 16 kilometers off the coast in the Mediterranean Sea and comprises three 10 MW turbines mounted on floating foundations. The site sits in deeper waters that are characteristic of the Mediterranean, where fixed-bottom offshore wind technology cannot be deployed, making the project a demonstration of floating wind's ability to access previously unreachable marine environments.

Ocean Winds was created as a joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE and developed EFGL in partnership with Banque des Territoires. The company describes the project as a pilot wind farm intended to demonstrate the viability of floating offshore wind development and construction in the specific conditions of the Mediterranean.

The farm is expected to generate approximately 110,000 MWh of clean energy per year, enough to power around 50,000 inhabitants annually over a projected operational lifespan of 20 years.

Local Supply Chain and Economic Footprint

Ocean Winds emphasized the scale of regional industrial engagement throughout the project's development. Approximately 85% of the direct suppliers mobilized for EFGL are French companies or companies based in France. More than 99% of suppliers are located in Europe, and 60% qualify as small and medium-sized enterprises.

The assembly and installation campaign took place at the port of Port-La Nouvelle during the previous summer. Now that the project has entered its operational phase, it is supporting more than 20 workers engaged in energy production monitoring and maintenance activities at the port, which Ocean Winds described as anchoring long-term local economic activity in the area.

Marc Hirt, Country Manager for France at Ocean Winds, said the start of electricity production at EFGL represents an important milestone for France's energy sovereignty and for floating wind more broadly.

He said the project mobilized European and French players alongside French SMEs and is already delivering tangible benefits to the Occitanie region through green energy production, support to the local economy, job creation, and environmental awareness.

World's First Nature-Inclusive Floating Wind Farm

EFGL carries an additional distinction beyond its energy production credentials. Ocean Winds states that it is the world's first nature-inclusive floating wind farm. The project incorporates artificial marine habitats, known as Biohut, designed by Ecocean, a local SME, and installed at sea with the aim of enhancing marine biodiversity.

The company described this integration of environmental design as setting a new standard for responsible offshore wind development worldwide, combining advanced engineering and regional cooperation with active measures to support marine ecosystems rather than simply mitigate their disruption.

Building on Prior Floating Wind Experience

EFGL represents Ocean Winds' second operating floating wind farm globally. The company's first floating offshore wind project was WindFloat Atlantic, and it cited that earlier project as the foundation on which EFGL's success was built.

Craig Windram, CEO at Ocean Winds, said the first power from EFGL reflects the company's 15 years of leadership in floating offshore wind and confirms its ability to deliver and operate offshore wind technologies across the world.

He also noted that the same week EFGL reached first power, the company's bottom-fixed project Yeu-Noirmoutier reached full power, presenting both achievements as evidence of the company's broad execution capabilities across different offshore wind technology types.

Windram said the milestone reinforces the company's track record of turning ambition into operational assets in demanding contexts and positions it to scale offshore wind globally.

Pathway to Larger Commercial Projects

Ocean Winds positioned EFGL explicitly as a stepping stone to larger-scale floating wind development in France. The pilot project is described as paving the way for the Eoliennes Flottantes d'Occitanie, referred to as EFLO, a 250 MW floating offshore wind project that was awarded to Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires in late 2024.

The EFLO project would represent a substantial scaling-up from the 30 MW pilot, and its award before EFGL had even reached first power suggests French authorities and project partners were already confident in the technology's trajectory.

The EFGL project's combination of operational achievement, local supply chain development, environmental innovation, and proximity to a larger follow-on commercial development illustrates the role that pilot-scale floating wind projects are playing in validating the technology and building the industrial ecosystem needed to bring it to commercial scale across Europe and beyond.

Powering Your Pipeline: Stay Ahead of Europe's Energy Infrastructure Race

The energy transition sweeping across Europe is accelerating project timelines, reshaping procurement cycles, and creating a surge of opportunities for developers, contractors, and investors alike. Are you positioned to capture them before your competitors do?

The Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research gives power sector professionals a decisive edge, aggregating real-time intelligence across every stage of the project lifecycle — from early planning through to completion. Whether you are monitoring grid expansions, offshore wind developments, or thermal upgrades, the platform delivers the granular data you need to act with confidence.

With coverage spanning the full breadth of Europe's power market, the GPT platform ensures your business development and strategy teams are never working from incomplete information. Identify emerging opportunities early, track competitor activity, and align your resources where the market is truly moving.

• Upcoming Projects

• Tender Notices

• Contract Awards

• Projects Under Construction

• Completed Projects

Discover how the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research can transform your approach to project intelligence across Europe — Book a Free Demo with our team today.