The European Commission has cleared a French support programme with a maximum budget of EUR 63 billion for eleven offshore wind farms with combined capacity of up to 11.1 GW.
The projects will be developed in the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Together, they are expected to produce as much as 47.8 TWh of renewable electricity annually, equivalent to about 10.6 percent of France’s yearly electricity consumption.
France plans to operate the scheme for 25 years. The measure was notified under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework, which the Commission adopted on 25 June 2025.
Support will be allocated through competitive tenders organised by the French authorities. Each successful bidder will submit a reference electricity price, which will be compared with the prevailing market price under a two-way contract for difference.
Beneficiaries will receive a payment when the market price falls below the agreed reference level. When the market price rises above that level, they will return the difference to the French authorities.
The Commission said the arrangement satisfies the relevant CISAF requirements because support will be awarded through competition and delivered as direct price assistance. The scheme also contains measures intended to prevent payments for electricity generated while market prices are negative.
Following its assessment, the Commission determined that the programme met the applicable tests on necessity, suitability and proportionality. It also found that the measure complied with Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
For three of the offshore wind farms, the programme will replace an earlier scheme approved by the Commission in August 2025.
Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said the decision allows France to proceed with the offshore wind support programme.
