2020 wind observatory. Analysis of the French wind power industry: market, jobs and challenges - September 2020

The publication of the Multi-annual Energy Programming (Programmation Pluriannuelle de l'energie - PPE) on 12 April 2020 confirms the importance of the wind industry, both onshore and offshore, in France's energy transition strategy. The objectives are ambitious, involving the doubling of the installed capacity for onshore wind power by 2028 and launching a call for tenders for offshore wind each year at a rate of around 1 GW per year. The health crisis we have just undergone demonstrates that this is a smart move. The production of renewable electricity remained at very high levels during this period, which was out of the ordinary in more than one respect. For wind power, the average coverage rate was 8.8% during the first semester, and even reached 31% in May. The crisis provided an early demonstration of the capacity of renewable energies to contribute to securing the power supply, in addition to their favourable impact on climate change. We are therefore further fortified in determination to extensively develop renewable energies in order to achieve the ambitious objectives of the multi-annual energy programming. The industry also demonstrates that the energy transition is a source of employment, with an 11% increase in wind jobs in 2019. There are currently 20,000 people working in the industry. It also benefits regional economic development by allowing decentralized power generation close to citizens. Thanks to the provisions in favour of participatory engagement carried by the government, communities and citizens are now more involved in wind projects.