Construction starts on three onshore wind farms in France: RWE drives forward expansion of renewables

• Wind farms to have a combined installed capacity of 50 megawatts
• Completion of wind farms planned for 2022

Katja Wünschel, COO Wind Onshore & Photovoltaic Europe & Asia-Pacific at RWE Renewables: “We are continuing to expand renewables in France at a high pace. Since we entered that market just one year ago, we have already put one wind farm into operation and are now building three further onshore wind farms. This makes us one of the most dynamic renewables players in France and strengthens our position in what is strategically a very important market for us.”

RWE is starting construction on three new onshore wind farms in France, with three more already under construction or in operation. Together with the expansion of the existing Epine Marie Madeleine wind farms, the new Coupru and Allerey plants will have a total installed capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) and, after they are commissioned in 2022, will be able to produce enough green electricity to supply over 28,000 French homes.

RWE is expanding its onshore portfolio in France

The Epine Marie Madeleine wind farm, which is to be expanded by 23 megawatts, is located in the Hauts-de-France region in the north of France. After completion, the wind farm will be comprised of a total of seven Nordex turbines which will be able to supply over 14,000 homes with carbon-neutral electricity. The plant is to be put into full operation during the fourth quarter of 2022. Joseph Fonio, Country Chair RWE Renewables France: “The development of the project was made in close cooperation with the local stakeholders. This is a crucial point for us. The energy transition is by nature a decentralised process which can only be made together with the local residents and authorities.”

Construction work has commenced at the Allerey wind farm in eastern France. Located around 60 kilometres west of Dijon in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, RWE is erecting five Nordex turbines with a total capacity of 15 megawatts at the site. They are due to be commissioned in 2022.

For the Coupru wind farm (12 MW), also located in the Hauts-de-France region, five Nordex wind turbines with a nominal capacity of 2.4 megawatts each are being erected. The French team has already started preparation work on site. The project is a joint venture with TotalEnergies (50%). Connection to the grid is planned for 2022.

As one of the global leaders in the renewables sector, RWE is rigorously driving the expansion of its activities in France. Most recently, RWE commissioned its 26.4-MW Les Pierrots wind farm in the country. Two further projects in the Hauts-de-France region, Les Hauts Bouleaux (18 MW) and Martinpuich (15 MW), are currently under construction and are due to be commissioned in 2022.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations and assumptions of management, and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee the occurrence of future results and developments and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and developments may deviate materially from the expectations and assumptions expressed in this document due to various factors. These factors primarily include changes in the general economic and competitive environment. Furthermore, developments on financial markets and changes in currency exchange rates as well as changes in national and international laws, in particular in respect of fiscal regulation, and other factors influence the company’s future results and developments. Neither the company nor any of its affiliates undertakes to update the statements contained in this press release.