Electricity production in offshore wind farms suspended when it is not profitable

Until now, these parks were encouraged to produce at their maximum capacity regardless of the market price. The Ministry of Economy intends to limit the impact on public finances.

For the moment, three farms are affected by this measure announced Monday, June 2 by the Ministry of the Economy: those installed off the coast of Fécamp, Saint-Brieuc , and Saint-Nazaire. Until now, these farms were encouraged to produce at their maximum capacity , regardless of the market price. This was provided for by what are called "obligation contracts." The three farms in question have just signed amendments that now provide for the cessation of their production during periods of negative prices, that is, when supply exceeds demand and prices fall below 0 euros. With less wind blowing—or not at all—a wind turbine is less profitable. This creates very significant variations.

The contracts originally signed ensured that the entire output of the farms would be purchased at the price set in the contracts, even with lower or no profitability. This was an economic and commercial aberration... and a net loss for public finances, since the State subsidizes wind power production with guaranteed prices, regardless of the circumstances.

The question isn't just for offshore wind farms, since the lack of wind is also a reality on land. The legislation will change in this area as well. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is planning similar provisions in the Finance Act for onshore wind power. A first implementing decree has just been submitted to the Higher Energy Council for consultation and advice. A second, completed text will be presented by the second half of the year.

The operating mode of all wind farms will therefore be affected in the long term, at least initially for the most powerful installations. Future contracts will encourage wind farms to stop producing during periods of negative prices. According to the CRE (the French Energy Regulatory Commission), these prices represented the equivalent of 235 hours in the first half of 2024, resulting in a loss of approximately €80 million for all subsidized French wind farms. This is a victory for critics of wind energy, who regularly denounce the intermittent nature of its production.