Ocean Winds, the 50-50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, has installed the final turbine at its Îles d'Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm in Vendée, completing construction less than three years after offshore works began. The 61 turbine project, known as EMYN, is now fully operational and producing renewable electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of nearly 800,000 people. The milestone, announced on 29 April 2026, matters because it marks the entry into operation of one of France's first major offshore wind farms and demonstrates that the country's offshore wind industry can deliver large scale projects with strong local industrial integration.

 

The Operational Profile of the Wind Farm

 

The EMYN wind farm is located off the coast of Vendée and consists of 61 turbines that have been progressively brought online since June 2025 as installation works advanced. The total operational output supplies the equivalent annual electricity consumption of nearly 800,000 people, which makes the project a meaningful contribution to France's electricity supply and a significant step in the country's offshore wind capacity build out. As the project moves into the full operation and maintenance phase, it will create approximately 80 long term direct jobs, including 66 positions based on the island of Yeu dedicated to operations and maintenance activities.

The transition from construction to operation marks an important strategic milestone for Ocean Winds. Craig Windram, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Winds, framed the entry into full operation as a clear demonstration of the joint venture's capability to deliver complex offshore wind projects at scale across European markets. The framing reflects the strategic importance of EMYN as a reference project that the company can use to support its development pipeline in France and other European markets.

 

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The Industrial Footprint and Local Jobs Created

 

The project has contributed to the development of a substantial socio industrial ecosystem in France. Nearly 2,400 direct and indirect jobs were generated during the construction phase, and the project played an active role in establishing key components of the French offshore wind industrial base. Siemens Gamesa's factory in Le Havre, which manufactures blades and assembles nacelles, was developed in connection with the project. The offshore substation was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, further illustrating how the project mobilised major French industrial groups in support of the offshore wind supply chain.

This kind of industrial integration is commercially and politically significant in France. Successive governments have made the development of a domestic offshore wind supply chain a central element of their industrial policy, with the objective of capturing economic value from the energy transition rather than relying on imported equipment. The Le Havre factory and the Saint Nazaire substation construction provide tangible evidence that this policy is producing results, and the EMYN project has played a direct role in catalysing those investments.

 

Coexistence With Maritime Stakeholders

 

A defining feature of the project's development was its emphasis on coexistence with other sea users, particularly the fishing community. Continuous dialogue and close coordination with local stakeholders enabled the project to be adapted to local constraints and integrated alongside existing maritime activities. This approach is increasingly recognised as a prerequisite for the successful development of offshore wind, particularly in densely used coastal waters where multiple stakeholders share the same marine environment.

Marc Hirt, Country Manager for France at Ocean Winds, emphasised that the project demonstrates how offshore wind can be developed in France with strong local industrial integration and close coexistence with sea users. The framing positions EMYN not only as an energy project but as a proof point for how large infrastructure can be delivered in environmentally and socially sensitive coastal areas. For other developers planning offshore wind projects in France and elsewhere in Europe, the engagement model used at EMYN provides a reference for how to navigate the complex stakeholder landscape associated with offshore development.

 

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The Strategic Context for French Offshore Wind

 

The completion of EMYN comes at a time when France is significantly expanding its offshore wind ambitions. Minister for the Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure and Minister Delegate for Energy Maud Bregeon recently announced the country's largest ever offshore wind tender, which was followed by a visit to the EMYN offshore construction site. The combination of a major operational project and a major new tender signals that France is moving into a new phase of offshore wind development, with the lessons learned from first generation projects supporting the larger pipeline now being prepared.

For Ocean Winds specifically, the company has additional projects under development in France, including Dieppe Le Tréport, which has surpassed the halfway mark in foundation installations. The combination of EMYN's completed construction and the ongoing Dieppe Le Tréport project gives Ocean Winds a clear positioning advantage as the next round of French offshore wind tenders progresses, since few competitors can yet point to fully operational projects of comparable scale in the country.

 

What the Project Signals for European Offshore Wind

 

The wider significance of the EMYN completion lies in what it shows about the maturity of European offshore wind delivery. Less than three years of offshore construction to install 61 turbines and complete the supporting substation infrastructure, even under challenging weather conditions, indicates that the industry has reached a level of operational discipline that allows large projects to be delivered on commercially acceptable timelines. This is particularly important because previous generations of offshore wind projects, both in France and in other European markets, have sometimes faced significant delays that have pushed up costs and reduced returns.

For institutional investors evaluating European offshore wind, EMYN provides another data point in the broader argument that the sector can deliver large scale infrastructure within manageable timeframes when project sponsors have established expertise, integrated supply chains and effective stakeholder engagement. The performance of the wind farm during its operational phase, measured by capacity factor, availability and the durability of the supply chain partnerships built around it, will provide useful insights for future projects across France and the wider European offshore market.

 

Source: Ocean Winds