Iberdrola has inaugurated the operation and maintenance (O&M) base for the 496 MW Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France.
According to Iberdrola, 80 people will work in the O&M centre located in Binic-Établesm. The base controls and manages the electricity production and maintenance of the wind farm, playing a crucial role in its performance to ensure continuous and reliable production of renewable energy, said the company.
Initially, part of the activity will be carried out in coordination with teams from the service operation vessel (SOV) Goëlo Enabler based in the Saint-Malo Port. In the second phase, they will be transferred to the Armor Port in Saint-Quay-Portrieux.
After consultation with the users and local stakeholders involved, the port of Saint-Quay-Portrieux will accommodate the vessels responsible for daily maintenance. To accommodate them, the port development works will be financed by Iberdrola for the benefit of the department of Côtes-d’Armor, the owner of the port and responsible for the implementation of the project.
The Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm is located 16 kilometres off the northwest coast of France in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc in the English Channel.
Fully commissioned in May 2024, the project features 62 Siemens Gamesa’s SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines.
The electricity generated by the wind turbines is collected by the offshore substation and carried by two 225 kV subsea export cables installed by RTE to Caroual Beach in Erquy. Renewable electricity is injected into the grid via the Doberie substation located in Hénansal (Côtes-d’Armor).
The offshore wind farm produces about 1,820 GWh/year, which represents about nine per cent of Brittany’s electricity consumption, Iberdrola said.