Provence Grand Large

Project Overview

The Provence Grand Large (PGL) project is a pioneering floating offshore wind farm located off the coast of southern France. Here are the key details of the project:

Location

The wind farm is situated approximately 17 kilometers from the coastal town of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, near Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It is positioned in waters with a depth of about 100 meters.

Capacity and Impact

The project features three 8.4 MW wind turbines supplied by Siemens Gamesa, totaling a production capacity of 24-25 MW. This capacity is expected to provide electricity to more than 40,000 to 45,000 households in France.

Technology and Infrastructure

• Floating Foundations: The turbines are installed on floating foundations developed by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles. These foundations use a tension-leg platform (TLP) design, which reduces motion and stress on the turbine components and has a relatively small footprint.
• Anchoring System: The floating structures are tethered to the sea bottom by wires, minimizing seabed disturbance and protecting the marine ecosystem.
• Cabling: Prysmian Group is responsible for connecting the turbines to the public electricity transmission grid operated by RTE via a 19-kilometer submarine cable and a 9-kilometer underground cable.

Key Players

• Developer: The project is developed by EDF Renewables, with ownership resting with Parc Eolien Offshore de Provence Grand Large, an EDF Renewables subsidiary, in partnership with Enbridge Eolien France 2 S.à.r.l (EEF2), a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. and CPP Investments.
• Turbine Supplier: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
• Foundation and Anchoring: SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles.
• Cabling: Prysmian Group.

Engineering and Construction

• Assembly and Installation: The turbines were assembled on novel tensioned-line floats developed by SBM Offshore and IFP Energies Nouvelles. The assembly took place in the industrial port of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, and the structures were then towed and installed at the site.
• Crane Operations: The installation involved the use of a large crawler crane, an LR 11350 from Liebherr, to handle the heavy components.

Objectives and Significance

• Pilot Project: Provence Grand Large is a small-scale pilot project aimed at demonstrating the technical and economic viability of floating offshore wind farms in France. It is the first “pre-commercial” floating offshore wind farm in the country.
• Innovation: The project employs innovative floating wind technology, allowing for the harnessing of wind energy in deep waters where conventional fixed-bottom offshore wind farms cannot be established. This technology reduces visual and noise impacts on coastal communities and taps into more consistent and higher velocity winds.

Challenges and Solutions

• Technical Challenges: The project faced challenges related to the integration of floating turbines, including the need for integrated loads assessment and the development of specialized software to link OrcaFlex with Siemens-Gamesa's in-house aeroelastic software. INNOSEA, part of OWC, played a crucial role in addressing these challenges.
• Environmental Considerations: The design of the floating foundations and anchoring system was chosen to minimize seabed disturbance and protect the marine ecosystem.

Prospects and Future Implications

• Future Adoption: While the technology is still relatively new and faces higher initial costs and maintenance difficulties, continued advancements in design and engineering, along with economies of scale, are expected to make floating wind farms more common and cost-effective in the future.
• Contribution to Renewable Energy Goals: The project is a significant step towards France’s renewable energy goals, contributing to the country’s efforts to bolster wind energy deployment.