In Port-La Nouvelle, assembly of the first floating wind turbines in Occitanie has begun, marking a major milestone for the offshore wind industry. On this occasion, the new "wind" heavy quay, specially designed for assembly operations, was inaugurated.
The EFGL (Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion) pilot project involves the installation and operation of three 10 MW floating wind turbines, positioned over 16 km off the coast of Leucate and Le Barcarès. With a total height of 186 meters (at blade tip) and a rotor diameter of 160 meters, they will be the most powerful wind turbines ever installed in France, and the most powerful ever installed on floats.
Delivery and assembly
Final assembly of the floats began in early 2024 at the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille, on the Eiffage Métal site in Fos-sur-Mer. Delivery of the three floats in May 2025 was followed by the barge, launch and towing of the first float to the new heavy-duty quay at Port-La Nouvelle, built by the Occitanie Region.
Since the summer of 2024, three sea convoys have transported all the components of the Vestas V-164 turbines (blades, nacelles and tower segments). These delivery, unloading and storage operations involved Euroports (in charge of port logistics and handling) and Vestas (supplier of the wind turbines).
Final assembly operations began on May 13, following the arrival of the first float from Marseille. They consist in assembling the mast sections, then installing the nacelles and attaching the blades, wind turbine by wind turbine. Each assembly takes around two weeks, depending on weather conditions. These operations are carried out in partnership with Euroports, Mammoët (which operates the Terex Demag CC 8800-1 crane) and the Vestas teams on site.
Supplying more than 50,000 inhabitants
The project is backed by the company "Les éoliennes flottantes du golfe du Lion" (LEFGL), owned by Ocean Winds (a joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE) and Banque des Territoires. The wind farm is due to be launched in the summer of 2025, and will operate for 20 years. This pilot initiative will validate the technical and economic feasibility of floating wind power in real-life conditions, and supply over 50,000 inhabitants with renewable electricity.
This project reinforces the role of Port-La Nouvelle and the Occitanie region in the Mediterranean floating wind energy sector. During the event, Regional President Carole Delga and Prefect Pierre-André Durand launched a strategic committee dedicated to structuring this sector in Occitanie.
