Ocean Winds said the milestone “is important for the global floating offshore wind industry, showcasing the maturity of the technology.”

Ocean Winds, which is owned jointly by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, developed the project in partnership with Banque des Territoires. It has three 10-MW turbines installed on floating foundations, 16 km off the coast. EFGL is expected to generate around 110,000 MWh/year of clean energy. The company said the project “also demonstrates the viability of floating offshore wind development and construction in the Mediterranean, in deep  water.”

Ocean Winds chief executive Craig Windram said, “First power from EFGL demonstrates Ocean Winds’ leadership in floating offshore wind. This milestone reinforces our track record of turning ambition into operational assets.”

Ocean Winds country manager France Marc Hirt said the milestone “is an important one for France’s energy sovereignty and for floating wind more broadly.” He said it showcases the industrial maturity of floating offshore wind.”

EFGL is a pilot project that paves the way for larger developments, including Eoliennes Flottantes d’Occitanie, a 250-MW floating offshore wind project awarded to Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires in late 2024.

The developer also noted that EFGL is also the world’s first nature-inclusive floating windfarm, with artificial marine habitats, known as ‘Biohuts,’ which were designed by Ecocean, to enhance biodiversity.

The company also developed the WindFloat Atlantic array offshore Portugal.