France

France implemented the European energy policy objectives for the use of renewable energy in August 2015, when it adopted the Energy Transformation Law for Green Growth demonstrating the intention to increase the share of renewable energy sources on final gross consumption to 23% in 2020 and then to 32% by 2030. Development goals for renewable electricity production in French offshore wind power plants are ambitious and represent a good chance for the involvement of foreign investors.

Electricity production

CEZ Group entered the French renewables market in 2017 through the acquisition of 9 wind farms from the renowned developer ABO Wind.

At the beginning of 2019, CEZ Group acquired further onshore wind projects in France with a potential total installed capacity of up to 119 MW. Overall, CEZ is preparing to build wind power plants in France with a total installed capacity of more than 215 MW.

In the spring of 2023, the wind farm in Aschères-le-Marché was the first to start operating. Four wind turbines have a total capacity of 12 MW and will produce around 33 GWh of emission-free energy per year. Another completed project in France is the Neuville-aux-Bois wind farm, located less than three kilometers from the aforementioned wind farm. The five wind turbines have a total installed capacity of 15 MW. In July 2024, wind turbines in the Nueil-sous-Faye project began generating clean electricity. The four turbines have a total installed capacity of 11.1 MW. In November 2024, CEZ Group commissioned the La Piballe project in the west of the country. Three wind turbines from Nordex have a total installed capacity of 7.2 MW.

For more information, visit www.cezfrance.fr.

Energy start ups

In France, CEZ has also invested in other segments of the new energy sector.

Through its venture capital fund Inven Capital, CEZ invested into Vulog, the global independent leader in providing technology for shared mobility, offering end-to-end solutions enabling mobility operators to launch large-scale carsharing services.

Another start-up investment is represented by Cosmo Tech, an ambitious French company, which combines human and artificial intelligence, transforming the way that decision makers in the energy, utilities, and mobility sectors optimize their asset management and operations strategies. 

For more information visit www.invencapital.cz.