Japanese industrial group Sumitomo Corporation acquired a 29.5 percent equity stake in the French offshore wind projects, Dieppe Le Treport and Yeu Noirmoutier, as part of an alliance signed with Engie and Madrid-based EDP Renewables (EDPR), Engie announced Tuesday.
According to Engie's statement, Sumitomo Corporation is already strongly positioned in the wind energy sector in Japan, Europe, the U.S., South Africa and China. The company is also part of some major offshore wind projects in Belgium and in the U.K., totaling an installed capacity of over 1.5 G gigawatts.
As part of the alliance, Sumitomo Corporation will bring to the consortium its proven and complementary offshore wind expertise in terms of development, construction and operation, the statement read.
'Socio-industrial commitments remain confirmed. This new alliance underlines the attractiveness of the French offshore wind market and the implementation of a French marine energy sector,' it added.
Engie remains the reference shareholder with a 31 percent stake and the leading industrial player of both parks (496 megawatts each), in partnership with EDPR with a 29.5 percent interest and La Banque des Territoires, part of Groupe Caisse des Depots, with a 10 percent share.
According to the statement, Sumitomo Corp. is also one of Engie’s long-time trusted partners and co-investors in desalination and geothermal projects in the Middle-East and Indonesia.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr