Siemens Gamesa starts manufacturing at French offshore wind factory

Jobs boost as Siemens Gamesa begins manufacturing offshore wind nacelles and blades at plant in northern France

by Nadia Weekes 30 March 2022

Siemens Gamesa is due to produce nacelles and blades for its 7MW and 8MW. offshore wind turbines at Le Havre

Siemens Gamesa has started manufacturing nacelles and blades for its direct drive offshore wind turbine at a new manufacturing facility in Le Havre, northern France. 

The plant is said to be the world’s first to manufacture offshore nacelles and blades under one roof, and France’s largest industrial renewable energy project. 

A dedicated installation hub is also under construction on the same plot, allowing direct load out of wind turbine components to French offshore wind power plants. France currently has no commercial offshore wind farms in operation.

“We look forward to executing our strong French offshore order pipeline with components from the plant,” said Filippo Cimitan, managing director of Siemens Gamesa France. 

Siemens Gamesa has announced approximately 2.5GW of offshore wind turbine sales in France, including firm orders for the 496MW Saint-Brieuc , 497MW Fécamp and 448MW Courseulles-sur-Mer (Calvados) offshore wind farms, as well as the 25MW Provence Grand Large (Faraman) floating offshore wind project. 

Preferred supplier agreements include the 488MW ÃŽles d’Yeu et Noirmoutier (Les Deux ÃŽles) and 496MW Dieppe-Le Tréport projects. The projects will use Siemens Gamesa 7MW and 8MW offshore direct drive nacelles, as well as 75-metre B75 blades and 81-metre B81 blades.

“Producing our first offshore wind power components in Le Havre is electrifying. This investment serves as a major driver of the economic growth story in Normandy and in the French offshore wind industry,” said Marc Becker, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit.

“We are energised to lead the way, especially coupled with solid orders and the government’s recent French Offshore Sector Deal,” he added. 

French President Emmanuel Macron set out his country’s vision to install 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050. Under the French Offshore Sector Deal, the government has committed to 18GW by 2035.

The Le Havre site has already created 500 direct and indirect jobs, with another 250 positions expected to be filled between the end of this year and early 2023. 

Siemens Gamesa has also created a dedicated training centre in cooperation with local partners UIMM Le Havre, a metallurgy industry association, and training centres AFPI and AFPA.