Factory for floating wind foundations in line for EU funding

BW Ideol said the Fos-sur-Mer (Fos3F) facility for foundations for floating wind turbines, which it wants to build at Fos-sur-Mer on the country’s Mediterranean coast, will receive €74M (US$85M) from the EU Innovation Fund.

The aim of the Fos3F project is to build and operate a first-of-its-kind factory dedicated to series fabrication of concrete substructures based on BW Ideol’s patented Damping Pool design. 

BW Ideol said the project’s core innovation lies in applying field-proven technologies such as gantry slip-forming, skidding systems and automated prefabrication commonly used in civil infrastructure projects, and adapting them to the series production of foundations for floating wind turbines.

“Strategically located in southern France on the Mediterranean coast, this series fabrication line will serve multiple floating wind projects across France, Spain, Italy, and Greece, representing a total market estimated at around 8 GW by 2043,” said the company.

“By enabling local, large-scale production of floating foundations, the Fos3F project supports the European energy transition strategy, enhances Europe’s resilience, and strengthens the competitiveness of renewable energy supply chains throughout the Mediterranean region.”

The company said the project will also demonstrate that floating wind creates opportunities for a new, long-term industries. It said the fabrication line in Fos-sur-Mer “will be a major driver for the local economy, creating around 1,300 direct jobs and contributing to the energy transition of the region.”

Out of 359 applicants, 61 projects were selected in the Innovation Fund call. BW Ideol’s Fos3F project was chosen in from among entries in the Cleantech Manufacturing section of the call, which targets the production of components for renewable energy. Within this category, 11 projects were awarded funding. BW Ideol’s project was also granted the Strategic Technology for Europe Platform (STEP) seal, a label of excellence for promising projects.

BW Ideol and the European Commission will now enter the grant agreement preparation phase, during which the funding contract will be finalised. This process is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

BW Ideol chief executive Paul de la Guérivière said recognition by the European Commission “underlines the strategic importance of this factory for the energy transition of the Mediterranean coast and the relevance of our positioning and products.” He said support from the European Union will act as a catalyst for the implementation of the factory and for the development of the floating offshore wind industry.