Partnership in open seas

The French government launched an invitation to tender in July 2011 for the settling of wind farms on 5 sites off the coast of Brittany. Since then 10 offers have been received. Most offers have been made by consortium including both French companies like EDF, GDF Suez, Vinci or Areva and foreign firms like Siemens, Iberdrola or Dong Energy. The tender specifications highlighted the fact that the industrial and social project was as important as the purchase price of the electricity. The French authorities will give the name of the winner for each site in april 2012. (A.C.)