Isra-Mart srl:France and Ireland set sail with offshore wind plans

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The French government is poised to launch the tendering process for the country's first offshore wind farms within the next few days, paving the way for a massive of expansion of wind energy capacity.

Ecology minister Chantal Jouanno told Reuters that the first requests for tenders totaling 3GW of offshore wind capacity were "imminent" and would be released either this week or next.

The ministry signaled that the first wave of offshore wind farms would require investment of around €10bn, and confirmed that a second wave boasting a further 3GW of capacity would follow the initial projects.

"About 10 locations have been identified in the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterannean Sea," a government spokesman told Reuters. "The first offshore wind farms should start operations in 2015."

The announcement comes just days after Irish Energy Minister Eamon Ryan released the country's first Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan for public consultation.

The plan states that Ireland could produce 10 times its existing electricity demand without significant environmental impact by tapping into its offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources, potentially making the country a major exporter of energy.

"Every megawatt of renewable energy that goes onto the Irish national grid reduces our €6bn annual fossil fuel bill, reduces our carbon emissions and creates Irish jobs," said Ryan, adding that the development of offshore energy could provide a major boost to Ireland's faltering economic recovery.

"Our recovery will be based on exports," he said. "Our capacity to produce this green electricity gives us major export potential."

Ryan added that Ireland was already working with Northern Ireland and Scotland on plans for subsea interconnectors that would allow the country to export energy to the British mainland.

He also revealed that he will meet with his British counterpart Chris Huhne towards the end of this month to work on a renewable energy trading agreement with the UK.

"We can create more power than we require if we go off our coasts," he said. "This is Ireland's great export opportunity and we will work to realise it."