France’s Floating Wind Farm Shows What Works Offshore

France’s Provence Grand Large shows the technology can work at sea, not just on paper

9 Jan 2026

An offshore wind farm that is small by today’s standards is making a large point. Off the coast of Provence, three turbines bob gently in deep Mediterranean waters, sending power ashore. Provence Grand Large, with a capacity of just 25MW, is not meant to impress by size. Its importance lies in the fact that it works.

Europe’s offshore wind industry is edging into deeper seas. Fixed-bottom turbines, bolted to the seabed, dominate today’s fleets but are limited to shallow waters. Floating wind promises access to vast new areas, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic’s deeper reaches. Until recently, however, it has been confined mostly to short trials and prototypes. Provence Grand Large marks a shift from experiment to sustained operation.

Developed by EDF Renewables, the project sits in waters too deep for conventional foundations. Its turbines rest on floating platforms, anchored but not fixed to the seabed. This allows them to be placed farther offshore, easing conflicts with coastal communities and opening sites previously deemed impractical. For countries with steep continental shelves or sensitive coastlines, that flexibility matters.

The project also shows how floating wind borrows from established industries. Siemens Gamesa supplied turbines adapted from its offshore range, reducing technological novelty. The platforms themselves were developed with help from SBM Offshore, a firm better known for oil and gas infrastructure. Such cross-pollination is becoming common as energy companies repurpose offshore engineering skills for renewables.

Installation offers further lessons. The turbines and platforms were assembled in port and towed to their final location, avoiding the need for costly specialist vessels at sea. If replicated at scale, this approach could ease some logistical bottlenecks that plague offshore construction. Developers are already studying the project’s data to refine designs and trim costs.

Yet floating wind remains expensive and complex. Maintenance regimes are still evolving, and grid connections and permitting can be slow. Supply chains, built around fixed-bottom projects, will need to adapt. Provence Grand Large does not herald a sudden boom.

What it does provide is evidence. After years of promise, floating wind in Europe now has a working reference point. That may prove just as valuable as another few hundred megawatts.