The Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm completes the installation of its 61 turbines and now produces renewable electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of nearly 800,000 people.
Ocean Winds completed the installation of the last turbine at the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm, known as EMYN, off the coast of Vendée, France. With this milestone, the project enters full operation after less than three years of offshore work, executed under a complex industrial environment and demanding weather conditions.
In addition, the asset marks the entry into full operation of Ocean Winds’ first offshore wind farm in France. The company, created as a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, thus strengthens its presence in the European offshore wind energy market.
A 488 MW Offshore Wind Farm off Vendée
The EMYN offshore wind farm is located 11.7 kilometers from the island of Yeu and 16.5 kilometers from Noirmoutier. Its infrastructure includes 61 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines, with a total capacity of 488 MW.
Since June 2025, the project began generating electricity progressively. As turbines were installed, each unit entered operation in stages, which allowed the supply of renewable energy to begin before the complete construction was finished.
Now, with all turbines installed and connected, EMYN delivers clean electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of nearly 800,000 people. This production strengthens France’s renewable supply and supports national energy transition objectives.
French Industrial Chain and Local Employment
Furthermore, the development of the offshore wind farm drove a significant local supply chain. During the construction phase, approximately 2,400 direct and indirect jobs were created, with participation from French industrial facilities in key project components.
The Siemens Gamesa factory in Le Havre participated in blade manufacturing and nacelle assembly. Likewise, the offshore substation was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, demonstrating the role of French industry in the deployment of offshore wind infrastructure.
In addition, the operation and maintenance phase will create approximately 80 long-term direct jobs. Of these, 66 will be located on the island of Yeu, focused on operation, maintenance, and technical monitoring tasks for the farm.
Coexistence with Maritime Activities
At the same time, Ocean Winds emphasized coordination with other users of the sea, especially with the fishing community. The project incorporated continuous dialogue to adapt operations to local conditions and reduce interference with existing maritime activities.
This approach is key for future offshore developments in France, where the expansion of offshore wind energy must coexist with fishing, navigation, coastal tourism, and other uses of maritime space.
Ocean Winds Strengthens Its Offshore Portfolio in France
Ocean Winds was established in 2019 as a joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE to develop offshore wind energy. The company integrated offshore assets and projects from both companies and grew from an initial portfolio of 1.5 GW under construction and 4 GW in development to 3.8 GW in operation and construction, plus 17.6 GW in development.
With EMYN in full operation, the company advances its French strategy while continuing with other projects in the country. Among them is Dieppe – Le Tréport, where foundation installation has already exceeded half of its execution phase.
Finally, the entry into operation of the farm coincides with the French Government’s push for new offshore wind energy tenders. This context opens a phase of greater activity for offshore projects, local manufacturing, specialized employment, and renewable electricity generation on the French coast.
Source and photo: Ocean Winds