Atlantic France on the crest of the marine renewables wave

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© Observatoire des énergies de la mer

The Marine Energy Observatory published its market insights for 2019. According to their survey, Atlantic France remains national leader and is home to more than a third of the jobs in the French marine renewables industry.

The French marine renewables sector is growing fast: it now represents over 3,000 jobs and €452 million were invested last year (+70%), reveals the marine energy observatory. This organisation, driven by the Cluster Maritime Français in partnership with the main industrials, conducted a national survey for the fourth year. 

36% of French marine renewables jobs are located in Atlantic France

The first French offshore wind farm is currently under construction off the Saint-Nazaire coast. Atlantic France also hosts two major stakeholders (GE and Chantiers de l’Atlantique), a business cluster dedicated to marine renewables (Neopolia), and offers a strong industrial environment. 

Our region therefore remains #1 in France for marine renewables, with 1,105 jobs (36% of the national total), a figure which is 43% higher than in 2018. Last year, the cumulated turnover amounted to €97 million and €106 million were invested, twice as much as in 2018. 

Key marine renewables figures in Atlantic France

1,105 jobs

36% of French marine renewables jobs

€97 million 2019 turnover

€106 million 2019 investments

A land of R&D for marine renewables

Besides being home to the first French offshore wind farm, Atlantic France also hosts the first floating wind farm in the country. The demonstrator called Floatgen is located at the SEM-REV test site of Centrale Nantes, where a wave power prototype for the innovative company Geps techno is also being tested.

The factory dedicated to marine renewables built by GE in Saint-Nazaire manufactures turbines for wind farms in France and abroad, and has created a prototype of the world largest offshore wind turbine (Haliade-X 12 MW)

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