Inside French Wind - EDPR France Holding celebrates the opening of the Preuseville wind farm

EDP Renewables, the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer, celebrates the opening of a new wind farm in France today. The Preuseville wind farm is located in the municipality of the same name (department of Seine-Maritime in the region of Upper Normandy). Its annual output will allow it to supply clean energy to 5,500 people every year.

Following the entry into service of the wind farm in January 2015, Frédéric Lanoë and all his team are delighted to announce the inauguration of the Preuseville wind farm on Friday, 26 June 2015.

Those in attendance at the inaugural ceremony included: Frédéric Lanoë, Managing Director of EDP Renewables France and Belgium and President of France Energie Eolienne, an association of wind energy professionals; Ms. Hurel, a member of the National Assembly of France representing the 6th constituency of the Seine-Maritime department; Ms. Mammeri, regional councillor; and Mr. Vassard, Mayor of Preuseville.

The Preuseville wind farm will avoid the emission of 4,200 tonnes of CO2 per year and supply clean energy to 5,500 people per annum. Since it entered into service, the wind farm has met EDPR’s .

The Preuseville wind farm forms part of the extension of the Pays de Bray wind energy facility, located in the municipalities of Callengeville, Smermesnil and Preuseville, which has fourteen wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 35 MW.

It is also worth pointing out that EDPR France has also invested in the field of off-shore wind energy in Normandy, the industrial sector of tomorrow. EDPR holds a 43% share in the Dieppe le Tréport off-shore wind farm, in conjunction with Engie (formerly GDF Suez) and Neoen Marine. This project will run in tandem with a major industrial plan focused on the city of Havre.

The construction of the Preuseville wind farm brings EDPR France’s total installed capacity in the country to 340 MW, becoming the fifth largest wind energy producer in France.

Frédéric Lanoë said: “The extension of an existing wind farm which has been extremely well received clearly demonstrates that wind farms and local communities can co-exist in perfect harmony. This message was vitally important for the approval of the Energy Transition Law in France. The people of Normandy can count on the technical and economic backing of EDPR France to turn the region into an innovation and employment benchmark, thanks to its onshore wind farms and the company’s 43% share in the off-shore project at Dieppe le Tréport”.