France has selected TotalEnergies as operator of the 1.5 GW Centre Manche 2 offshore wind farm, the country’s largest renewable energy project to date. The award marks a milestone for TotalEnergies, which now takes a central role in building out France’s offshore wind capacity while driving European supply chain participation.
Project overview
Centre Manche 2 will be located about 40 kilometers off the coast of Normandy, generating roughly 6 TWh annually, enough to power more than one million households. The French state has agreed a tariff of €66/MWh, underpinning an investment estimated at €4.5 billion.
TotalEnergies will act as operator through design, construction and operations, with FID targeted for 2029 and first power by 2033. The project is intended to anchor the next phase of French offshore wind development under the government’s national plan, which aims to award 18 GW of capacity by 2035.
Consortium changes
While originally developed with RWE, the German utility has indicated it will withdraw from the consortium, subject to regulatory approvals. This leaves TotalEnergies to seek a new partner while assuming the lead developer role. For France, the shift reinforces TotalEnergies’ profile as the country’s flagship offshore wind operator, with responsibility for delivery of Europe’s next multi-billion-euro wind farm.
EPC and supply chain opportunities
EPCIntel.com estimates that a project of this scale will generate €3–3.5 billion in EPC contracts across turbines, foundations, subsea cables, offshore substations and onshore grid connection. Key packages will likely include:
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Wind turbines: €2–2.2 billion for turbine supply, installation and long-term service agreements
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Foundations: €700–900 million for monopiles or jackets and transition pieces
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Export and array cables: €600–800 million for subsea cable supply and installation
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Offshore and onshore substations: €300–400 million for grid integration
France’s industrial policy requires strong local content. Substations are expected to be designed and built domestically, while cable production may benefit Nexans and other European suppliers. Turbine awards will be closely watched, with Siemens Gamesa, GE Vernova and Vestas all competing aggressively for a strategic foothold.
Strategic significance
Centre Manche 2 is TotalEnergies’ largest investment in France in three decades and signals the company’s accelerating pivot into renewables. It also strengthens Normandy’s position as a European hub for offshore wind manufacturing and assembly.
For contractors and suppliers, the project will provide a steady pipeline of work over the next decade, from FEED studies in the late 2020s to fabrication and installation through the early 2030s. With France committed to scaling its offshore wind capacity, Centre Manche 2 is likely to set the benchmark for future tenders in terms of size, cost and local content requirements.
