The French Dieppe-Le Tréport and Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore projects, which have a combined capacity of nearly 1GW, will now be equipped with SGRE's direct-drive SWT 8MW turbines.
The French government approved the switch to the Siemens unit for the two projects after a review by the Energy Regulation Commisssion.
SGRE has also applied to Nicholas Hulot, minister for ecological and inclusive transition, to switch turbines for the Bay of Saint-Brieuc project.
The decision to discontinue the AD8 does not affect plans for Adwen, which SGRE took over in March, , one for nacelles and the other for blades, in Le Havre, France. The factories had been earmarked for production of 8-9MW turbines.
The proposed change for the Bay of Saint-Brieuc site is currently waiting approval.
"This decision is a crucial milestone for the French offshore wind industry," said Michael Hannibal, Siemens Gamesa CEO for offshore.
"I am convinced this will help the industry take off and I am happy to see that all parties involved, including our customers and the French State, acknowledge the benefits of installing the D8 in these projects."
Adwen’s 8MW-180 turbine had been selected for the three French offshore sites. The company has no further orders for the 8MW model in the pipeline.
The manufacturer carried out a in June, in which its CEO Luis Alvarez was asked to leave and the company was split into two divisions, Adwen Operations and French Pipeline, against the backdrop of an uncertain future.
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