Strategy - Wind power

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Wind power is currently experiencing spectacular worldwide growth. EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), a 96.71%-owned subsidiary of EDF, is the Group’s standard bearer for renewable energy and in particular wind energy, its development priority.

Wind power: one of the most environmentally-friendly energy generation methods.

Worldwide, wind energy production capacity has increased by 26% on average per year over the last 10 years. (source: GWEC)

Providing energy and protecting the environment

A hydropower facility is designed to last at least 20 years and its component materials are recyclable or re-usable. During its operational life it emits neither gas emissions nor particles, while technological innovations have significantly reduced noise pollution. Finally, scientific studies have shown that most birds are able to identify and avoid the blades of the wind turbines.

Development potential: forging ahead on three fronts

Among the different forms of renewable energy, wind energy has the highest development potential. It is the main production method of EDF Energies Nouvelles with 85% of its installed capacities. As a world reference player, EDF EN is established in 13 countries in Europe and North America.

In France, the company started up the Mediterranean Corbières wind farm (20.7 MW) in the Aude region, and the Canton du Quesnoy (10 MW) farm in the North in 2010.
In Europe, EDF EN installed more than 200 MW of wind turbines, notably the Monte Grighine farm in Italy (98.9 MW), the Fokida and Skopies farms in Greece (resp. 46 MW and 18 MW), the Soma 1 farm (79.2 MW) in Turkey, the Rusholme farm (24 MX) and Burnfoot Hill (26 MW) in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, two of the Group's offshore projects have entered the construction phase: 295.2 new megawatts for the C-Power project in Belgium, and 62 MW for Teeside in the United Kingdom.
In the United States, the company is continuing with the construction of the Lakefield project (205.5 MW) in Minnesota, which is scheduled to come into service in 2011.

Key facts

35 decibels
The sound level from a quiet conversation… and a wind turbine 500 meters away

EDF EN's installed capacity reached 2,922.9 MW at the end of 2010, including 389.1 MW in France, 495.8 MW in Portugal and 961.1 MW in the USA. (total capacity of farms for which EDF EN is a shareholder).

Wind energy developments: at the end of 2010, EDF EN had 918 MW under construction and a wind energy project portfolio amounting to 13,784 MW.

Taking a closer look

Wind power

Harnessing
the wind

Global reach

Interactive map
of our operations

Experience

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an electric car

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