France has taken a major step toward its energy transition with the selection of the consortium led by TotalEnergies, alongside RWE, as the winner of the Centre Manche 2 (AO8) offshore wind tender. Located more than 40 kilometers off the coast of Normandy, this 1.5 gigawatt project will be the largest renewable energy development in France’s history. Once operational, the wind farm will generate around 6 terawatt-hours of green electricity annually, enough to power over one million households, at a competitive rate of €66 per megawatt-hour.

The rapid shift to nuclear power in France is often hailed as a benchmark for efficient and effective climate action. Beginning in the 1970s, France embarked on an ambitious nuclear energy program that has since positioned it as a global leader in nuclear power generation. Today, approximately 70% of France’s electricity is derived from nuclear energy. This transition was motivated by the oil crises of the 1970s, which highlighted the need for energy security and independence.