Wind farm project in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc SUMMARY of the contracting authority’s file Public debate March-July 2013 Ailes Marines S.A.S. créée par Why an offshore wind farm in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc? Due to diminishing energy resources The situation in France worldwide, and the reality of global warming Growing electricity demand In France, electricity represents 42% of the overall energy Nearly 80% of the world’s energy consumption (transport, industry, consumption. Electricity usage is increasing faster than is the heating)(1) results from fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.). However, according case with other types of energy. The 10 historical consumption to the International Energy Agency, oil stocks will run out around peaks recorded by the Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), the 2050, while gas stocks will run out in 2070. public electricity grid company, have all occurred in the last 6 years. Global warming related to increased greenhouse gases, notably What is the source of this electricity? produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, is now a reality. If a In 2011, 77.7% of the national electricity production was of proactive energy policy is not implemented soon, the temperature nuclear origin, 9.5% of so-called “classic” thermal origin (i.e. electric- of the planet’s surface could experience an increase ranging from ity produced from fossil fuels), 9.3% of hydroelectric origin and 1.8 to 4.0°C by 2100(2). 2.2% of onshore wind origin(3). Increasing the production of electricity from renewable energies would help to improve the diversification of the resources, and therefore France’s energy independence. This would also mean a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. Onshore electrical substation Electrical sub-station at sea Installed capacity: The voltage is increased to 225,000 volts 5 MW per wind turbine before being injected into the national grid THE OPERATION OF A WIND FARM AT SEA Wind turbines are used to transform wind energy into electrical energy. The wind turns the rotor, that has 3 blades, and drives a generator that produces electricity. For the greatest possible efficiency, the blades are always oriented to adapt to the wind. All of a wind farm’s Export cable turbines are connected, via a network of cables at sea, to an electrical sub-station, thanks AREVA to which the energy produced by the wind turbines (33 kV) is transformed in order to comply M5000-135 with the voltage of the on-land network (225 kV). Via a submarine cable, this energy is then wind turbine routed to the public grid, and thus to consumers. Inter-turbine cables Voltage: 33,000 volts For safety reasons, and insofar as possible, the electrical cables will be buried to a depth ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 m 2 å Why an offshore wind farm in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc? DIALOGUE AT THE HEART OF THE AILES MARINES PHILOSOPHY For Ailes Marines, the project’s success is based to a large extent on considering the stakeholders involved in building a project which is based locally. Since late 2009, more than 200 meetings have been organised with the stakeholders in question: elected officials, socio-economic players, users The wind turbine model of the sea, environmental and citizen associations. In this way, the expressed needs and expectations regarding various aspects of the project – notably Wind turbines, clean energy technical – have been taken into account. Wind energy is considered to be a clean energy, since it does not Some of these meetings were also held within the framework of a committee directly produce CO2 or pollution within its surroundings on from the renewal energy sector, working groups and a local consultation body. the operating site. Today, more than 4 million people in France are The public debate will serve to extend and complete this initiative with local supplied by the 600 land-based wind farms installed throughout dialogue and information systems maintained after the confirmation of the the country. project’s continuation by Ailes Marines. Alpha ventus wind farm at sea The difference between wind farms on land and at sea Compared to a land-based wind turbine, an offshore wind turbine by 2020. Specifically regarding wind energy, it set the target:installed On the planning for the offshore wind offers a greater yield, but must take into account the specifics capacity of 25,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020, including 19,000 farm invitation to tender of the marine setting, notably in the design of the wind turbines, MW of onshove wind farms and 6,000 MW of offshore wind their foundations and also their operation. There are currently no farms and marine energies. Today, the considerations surround- At the end of a planning and consultation process carried out in commissioned offshore wind farms in France. And yet, France has ing the evolution of the energy policy in France are continuing, all maritime regions of mainland France (including Brittany), for the the best wind “potential” in Europe after the United Kingdom(4). with the national debate on the energy transition that began on purpose of identifying areas off the French coasts that would be 29 November 2012. suitable sites for offshore wind farms, the State decided to launch an In Europe, offshore wind farms are developing invitation to tender for the construction and operation of wind farms very quickly on 5 sites: Le Tréport (Seine-Maritime), Fécamp (Seine-Maritime), By late 2011, 53 offshore wind farms were in service in 10 European Brittany, an “electric peninsula” Courselles-sur-Mer (Calvados), Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d’Armor) and countries: the United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique). Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Portugal. Looking Brittany only produces 10% of the electricity that it consumes(5), Three main criteria were used to separate the candidates: the price ahead to 2020, European countries wish to increase the installed which makes it an importing territory with a major deficit in this of the electricity, the industrial plan and the consideration of existing offshore capacity by tenfold. domain. To reduce the region’s electrical dependency and to guar- activities and the environment. antee a constant power supply for the inhabitants (and thereby avoiding any risks of electricity cuts), the Brittany Regional Council, On 6 April 2012, the company Ailes Marines SAS was awarded The State’s commitments the State, the ADEME, the Agence nationale de l’habitat (ANAH) and lot n°4 (Saint-Brieuc). RTE signed the “Brittany electrical pact” in 2010. The State has been committed to renewable energies since the This pact has 3 objectives: early 2000s. Launched on 6 July 2007, the Environment Roundtable > controlling the electricity demand; confirmed this strategic direction with the objective of increasing the > securing the sourcing; Sources: (1) AIE, Key World Energy Statistics, 2009. (2) World Bank report, share of renewable energies (wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, > the massive rollout of renewable energies, including offshore November 2012 (3) RTE, Bilan électrique 2011. (4) ADEME. biogas and biofuels) to 23% within the overall energy usage wind farms. (5) Bilan électrique RTE, 2011. Why an offshore wind farm in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc? å 3 What project for the Bay? A balanced installation, respectful of the existing THE PROJECT’S BOUNDARY activities Boundary in the invitation Railway network to tender ST-BRIEUC Prefecture The invitation to tender specifications included the primary Project’s boundary Jersey St-Hélier Dinan Subprefecture M A N C H E Distance between the coast Fréhel Commune objective of producing a wind farm with a power rating and the closest windturbine Lamballe Community of towns’ head of 480 to 500 MW within a predefined boundary of Town’s boundary Community of towns’ boundary Urban zone 2 180 km . Department boundary Woods Main road Jersey 0 5 10 km Secondary road 37 km Within this framework, Ailes Marines designed a project with a minimal impact, with the aim of technical and Pleubian M A N C H E C. C. Île de Bréhat environmental optimisation. Ailes Marines considers de la Presqu’Île Île de Bréhat 28 km that this is the best compromise between: de Lézardrieux > the project’s technical and economic feasibility; Lézardrieux Ploubazlanec 0 10 20 km > the expectations and demands expressed by the local Paimpol Cap Fréhel 16,2 km Plourivo stakeholders during the consultation carried out by Ailes Plouézec St-Quay C. C. Paimpol-Goëlo Portrieux Marines, with the necessary consideration of existing 27 km activities (most notably fishing); Lanloup Pontrieux St-Malo St-Colomb the integration of the project-related environmental and Plouha 35 km > Tréveneuc St-Quay- Cap d’Erquy St-Malo landscape matters. C. C. Lanvollon-Plouha Portrieux 17 km Erquy Fréhel St-Briac- Lanvollon Plourhan Etables- St-Lunaire Pommerit- sur-Mer sur-Mer C. C. du St-Cast- Dinard St-Malo In an effort to reduce the wind farm’s footprint on the le-Vicomte St-Brieuc Plurien Sud Goëlo Matignon le-Guildo Agglomération Binic 33 km C. C. de la Côte Lancieux Pléneuf- St-Jacut- maritime domain, Ailes Marines proposes a site covering de Penthièvre de-la-Mer C. C. de la Val-André C. C. du Pays Côte d’Emeraude Pleurtuit Pordic de Matignon 77 km², i.e. 43% of the boundary in the invitation to tender. Trégon Guingamp Plelo Hénanbihen Ploubalay Saint-Alban Chatelaudren In this way, this location will serve to: Planguenoual Ploumagoar Plérin Créhen Pleslin- Plouagat Trémuson Morieux Plancoët Trigavou > avoid the favoured areas for commercial fishing; ST-BRIEUC C. C. Rance-Frémur C. C. du Pays de Hillion > limit the impact on the landscape quality of the Châtelaudren - Plouagat Langueux C.