DEME’s French subsidiary has won a contract for the export cable for the 30 MW floating offshore wind farm in Leucate, offshore France.

The French network operator Reseau de Transport d’Electricite (RTE) has awarded the DEME SDI subsidiary, in consortium with JDR, the EPCI contract.

The export cable will consist of a submarine cable and a section of land cable, connecting to the land substation near the Barcares. Construction activities are expected to start in 2022.

Leucate is developed by Les Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL), a consortium made up of Ocean Winds and Caisse de Depots, and is located 16 km off the south-eastern coast of France in the Mediterranean Sea.

Philip Scheers, Business Unit Director at DEME Offshore, said: “We are delighted to have won this important EPCI contract for one of the world’s first floating wind farms.

“By combining RTE’s experience in grid connections, including export cables, with our vast experience and expertise in the offshore wind sector and subsea operations, and the experience of JDR in the manufacture of static and dynamic cables, the consortium partners are convinced that we will carry out this pioneering project. a success – really putting the floating offshore wind industry in France on the map.

Gilles Etheimer, purchasing director of RTE, added: “RTE appreciates the professionalism of SDI (DEME) and JDR in terms of overall performance in the face of the specific challenges of the project, their proactive approach and their willingness to integrate the benefits of new technological developments. in their solutions.

“RTE is convinced that a high level of collaboration between the two members of the consortium is the key to the success of the project.”

Large-scale commercial wind farms of 250 MW and above are currently in the planning phase in France.