France has opened the bid submission phase for its AO10 offshore wind tender, a landmark procurement programme covering 11 projects located off the coasts of Normandy, Brittany, the South Atlantic and the Mediterranean. With nearly 10 GW of capacity on offer, the auction is expected to become one of the largest offshore wind tenders ever launched in Europe.

The call for tenders, officially published on 20 May 2026, is currently in the application phase. Interested developers have until 12 October 2026 to submit their participation dossiers, while requests for additional information can be submitted until 19 July 2026.

Fixed-bottom and floating wind projects

The programme includes a mix of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind projects, reflecting France’s strategy to accelerate offshore renewable deployment while supporting the industrial development of emerging floating wind technologies.

According to the tender specifications, the 11 projects are distributed across several maritime regions. Three large-scale fixed-bottom projects are planned in the Fécamp Grand Large area off the Normandy coast, while multiple floating wind projects are located off Brittany, the South Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean Sea, including the Narbonnaise, Golfe de Fos and Golfe du Lion areas.

Several projects are expected to exceed 1 GW of installed capacity, underlining the scale of the programme and its importance for France’s long-term energy transition goals. The tender is also expected to create significant opportunities for turbine manufacturers, offshore contractors, ports, foundations suppliers, cable manufacturers and other companies across the offshore wind supply chain.

Source: Review Energy

Application process underway

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) issued its opinion on the draft tender specifications on 12 May 2026, ahead of the official launch of the process. The final documentation, including the tender specifications and annexes, has since been made available to potential bidders.

AO10 marks a new phase in France’s offshore wind development strategy as the country seeks to expand both fixed-bottom and floating wind capacity in support of its renewable energy targets. Industry observers view the tender as a key test for the competitiveness of large-scale offshore wind projects and for the growth of the European floating wind sector.

The bidding process is expected to attract interest from major international offshore wind developers, with successful projects set to play a significant role in France’s future electricity mix.