he European Commission has approved a €10.82 billion French state aid scheme to support the development of offshore wind energy, contributing to the transition towards a net-zero economy and helping to achieve the EU's renewable energy targets for 2030. This measure was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.

The French scheme will run for 20 years and will support the construction and operation of three floating offshore wind farms: one in the sea off the coast of Southern Brittany and two others in the Mediterranean Sea. Each wind farm is expected to have a capacity of around 500 MW and to generate around 2.2 TWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual consumption of 450,000 French households.

The aid will be granted through a transparent and non-discriminatory bidding process, selecting one beneficiary per offshore zone. Resilience has been included as a tender prequalification and award criterion to diversify wind turbine and main specific components supply chains, reducing dependency on imports from China.

Under this scheme, the aid will take the form of a monthly variable premium under a two-way contract for difference (CfD), calculated by comparing a reference price, determined in the tender offer of the beneficiary, to the market price for electricity. When the market price is below the reference price, the beneficiaries will be entitled to receive payments equal to the difference between the two prices. When the market price is above the reference price, the beneficiary will have to pay the difference to the French authorities.

The Commission found that the French scheme meets the conditions of the CISAF, including being granted based on an estimated volume and budget, determined through an open, clear, transparent, and non-discriminatory competitive bidding process, and awarded before 31 December 2025. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero economy and facilitate the development of certain economic activities important for the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal, in line with Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU