AREVA and Schneider Electric Join Forces to Develop Offshore Wind Power in France

AREVA has selected Schneider Electric as its preferred supplier of power equipment for its offshore wind projects. This includes in particular the wind farm of 100 5MW turbines in the bay of Saint Brieuc off the coast of Brittany and the current tenders for the offshore wind farms at Le Tréport off the coast of Haute-Normandie and the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier in Pays de la Loire (France).

Developed as part of the offshore wind call for tender program launched by the French government in 2011, these wind farms will not only contribute to France meeting its targets laid down in the EU's Climate and Energy Package, but also firmly establish a French sector of excellence for a promising technology.

Under the terms of the agreement signed by the two groups, Schneider Electric will supply transformers and circuit breakers for AREVA's wind farms. These components will be manufactured at two of Schneider Electric's French industrial sites, located near Metz and Grenoble.

According to Frédéric Abbal, Executive Vice President, Energy Business Schneider Electric's Energy Business, "Schneider Electric is delighted to be designated as AREVA's preferred technology partner for their offshore wind projects. The combination of expertise offered by our two companies proves highly promising for the rapid establishment of a leading French sector of excellence in offshore wind."

Louis-François Durret, CEO of AREVA Renewables, said: "This agreement with Schneider Electric further underscores our commitment to developing a complete industrial sector in France, providing job creation opportunities and harnessing our local expertise.”