"High Power" test site
A future test site for next-generation floating wind technology
To mitigate the risks associated with the large-scale deployment of future commercial floating wind farms, Fondation OPEN-C is preparing to support the testing of next-generation floating wind turbine demonstrators equipped with turbines exceeding 10 MW in capacity. The current lack of high-capacity testing facilities at the European level further highlights the need for such infrastructure.
The Foundation has conducted a study to assess the feasibility of developing a new high-capacity test site — known as a "Very High Power" site — specifically designed for grid-connected testing of these large-scale demonstrators. This site would have the capacity to host and operate two to three floating wind turbine prototypes simultaneously. The feasibility study is backed by funding from the France 2030 investment plan
Ongoing studies to determine the location of a potential very high power test site
A dedicated working group has been established to identify potential locations for the future Very High Power (VHP) test site. A multi-criteria analysis and a prioritization methodology were implemented to narrow down the options to a limited number of viable areas.
Based on this evaluation, the decision was made to focus further grid connection and risk mitigation studies on two specific geographic zones: one off the southern coast of Brittany and another off the coast of Occitanie. Feasibility studies are currently ongoing.