Intersecting perspectives

Herveline Gaborieau, our Executive Director, and Ronan Stephan, our Chairman, look back on 2024, the major trends in the offshore wind sector and their vision for the Institute’s future.

What are your top takeaways from 2024?

Herveline Gaborieau: It’s a very positive picture! We are now recognised as the stakeholder that draws together offshore wind research and innovation in France. Our professionalism, which can be seen through our ability to meet deadlines, manage budgets and generate high quality results, is highly appreciated. Our publications in renowned peer-reviewed journals and our public webinars to present the results of R&D projects contribute to peer-to-peer recognition of the Institute, both in France and worldwide.
In 2024, our Eastern Channel – North Sea, Atlantic and Mediterranean offices continued to grow and became established in their role as relays for their respective regions. Our team also successfully delivered intense, fast-paced work to instrument the Fécamp met mast under the DRACCAR sector programme, which focuses on the interactions between offshore wind energy and the environment. I would like to congratulate those who worked in particularly harsh weather conditions throughout the year.

Ronan Stephan: France Energies Marines’ activity is experiencing strong growth. Public and private stakeholders seek us out to work together. Industry players express their satisfaction with the deliverables we produce and continue to place their trust in us. Academics also support our work, such as the universities of Le Havre Normandie and Aix-Marseille, both of which chose to become members of the Institute. Our attractiveness criteria are in the green, yet uncertainties lie on the horizon, potentially jeopardising the ongoing dynamism of our activity. Against this backdrop, support from the French State is more valued and necessary than ever.

What are the main trends emerging in the offshore wind sector?

Herveline Gaborieau: The different French calls for tender (AO) are generating and will continue to generate work. 2025 is set to see the launch of call for tender AO7 for the South Atlantic and call for tender AO8 for the Central Channel for bottom-fixed wind farms, as well as call for tender AO9 for Brittany, the Mediterranean and the South Atlantic for floating wind farms. Call for tender AO10 is also scheduled to be launched in the near future, with a capacity of at least 8 GW along the different coasts of France. Even if there is some apprehension over floating wind, it is a key technology to unlock France’s energy sovereignty. France Energies Marines is fully in line with supporting these landmark projects.

Ronan Stephan: Today, the exponential growth of turbine size is a given. Here in Europe, we need to get organised and collaborate to stay in the game with turbines in excess of 20 MW to compete with Chinese players. In France, to meet our target for a coherent and robust energy mix between nuclear and renewables, today upscaling offshore wind needs to become a top priority. To achieve this, there is a crucial need to improve our electricity grid and work on the resilience of interconnections.

How do you see the Institute evolving in the short- and medium-term?

Herveline Gaborieau: The sector programme RHODÉ, which will be focusing on direct current floating electrical substations, is poised to be launched in 2025. This is set to be a structural programme for the French sector as it aims to support grid resilience and to help achieve the 2050 energy mix targets. For France Energies Marines, international development represents a strong growth lever. In 2024, we prepared numerous proposals in response to European tenders, some of which should come to fruition as early as 2025. In addition, support from the French State remains vital so that the Institute and all those that contribute to the value chain can continue to develop their expertise.

Ronan Stephan: We have our sights set on international horizons. Peer-to-peer recognition on different key themes sets a solid foundation, which combines with our pragmatic approach and a team composed of individuals committed to serving the Institute. Our team remains extremely tightly knit and has been further enriched by strong growth over the past years.

Herveline Gaborieau: Our multidisciplinary team, within which every individual shares core values, is a real strength. It is thanks to this very collaborative mindset and the agility it fosters that France Energies Marines is able to be attentive to its members, partners and clients. This is one of the keys to longevity.

Photo credit: Sylvain Coulaud