France is on track to significantly miss its offshore wind energy targets unless it urgently accelerates the pace of development, according to a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

Despite launching several tenders since 2011, France currently has just 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of operational offshore wind capacity, supplying only about 1% of the country’s electricity. If deployment continues at its current pace, France will reach just 3 GW by 2032 — far below the government’s target of 18 GW by 2035.

The report highlights that France’s strong policy focus on nuclear energy has diverted critical financial resources away from renewable energy, jeopardizing both the country’s energy transition and its long-term energy security. This shortfall would also limit offshore wind’s role in replacing ageing nuclear power plants, many of which are scheduled for decommissioning by 2030.

“A combination of complex permitting procedures, legal obstacles, and a policy bias toward nuclear power has held back offshore wind development in France,” said Jonathan Bruegel, IEEFA power sector analyst and author of the report. “France has failed to provide the level of investment certainty that countries like the UK, Germany, and Denmark offer — and it shows.”

Key recommendations from the report

To reverse course and unlock the potential of offshore wind, the IEEFA report urges the French government to:

• Streamline permitting processes and reduce the legal timeframe for appeals on awarded projects.

• Develop a structured phase-down plan for nuclear, positioning offshore wind and other renewables as the backbone of future electricity supply.

• Modernize and adapt the national grid to better accommodate intermittent renewable energy sources.

• Reform market regulations, ending priority grid access for nuclear and allowing renewables to benefit from capacity market payments.

• Diversify energy investments, making offshore wind more attractive to private investors through stable policies and incentives, while redirecting public funds toward renewables infrastructure.

“Unlocking the potential of France’s offshore wind sector is essential for building a more balanced, resilient, and climate-neutral energy system,” said Bruegel.

With its long coastline and favorable wind conditions, France has strong natural potential to become a leader in offshore wind energy. However, without swift political action and financial commitment, the country risks falling behind its European peers — and missing a crucial opportunity in the global clean energy transition.