Wind Turbines in Aude Wind Farm, France
The French National Assembly has adopted on 11 March in final reading the bill on the pricing of energy and progressive measures relating to Wind Energy Generation. This bill includes several provisions to simplify essential measures for the development of Wind Power in the Country.
The law made by the MP François Brottes is an essential step for the development of wind energy in France, because of the complexity and administrative proceedings on the purchase rate, which slowed the domestic wind industry for three years. While Hexagone, France offers one of the best wind potential in Europe, only 757 MW was connected to the grid in 2012, a decrease of over 35% compared to 2010.
One of the Major decisions expected are the abandonment of the Development Zones Wind (ZDE).
Similarly, the obligation to provide parks with at least five machines is also expected to disappear. This removal will restart projects in the west (over half of the projects had been abandoned there).
Similarly, the connection with the first offshore wind farms in France will finally be made possible by allowing Cables to be laid in protective Zones and Wind Turbines will also be allowed to be placed in Coastal areas.
The adoption of the law will allow France to remain in the top five producers of wind energy in Europe in the sense of a rational energy transition. However, this perspective can only be fully achieved if the method of calculating the cost of grid connection is reviewed and if the wind tariff order is secured by a procedure of notification to the European Commission.
