Hugo Cordier – Connecting worlds: offshore wind planning in France

When the first pilot tenders were launched in 2003, offshore wind power looked set for a bright future along the French coastline. Nineteen years later, only one wind farm is generating electricity, whilst all the initially planned production targets have been postponed. Behind the scenes, the state’s role in shaping offshore wind energy policy deserves to be scrutinised and placed within the broader context of energy transition policies.

Whilst the State is the main driving force, it does not have a free hand: offshore wind power is a classic example of multi-level governance, where all levels (local, national and supranational) have the capacity to act. Through the general process of planning (spatial and sectoral), conceptions of technology and territory will be shaped, as well as the role of the State and local authorities in general, whether political, economic or community-based. This thesis therefore aims to examine the development of offshore wind energy through the lens of its planning processes (past and present).

By understanding the decision-making processes and the scope for action of the relevant stakeholders (the State, RTE, interest groups, local authorities, etc.), the study aims to shed light on the processes driving the regionalisation of offshore wind power and the multi-level governance mechanisms at work.