The Provence Grand Large (PGL) floating offshore wind farm (FOW) when completed at the end of 2023 will provide 24 MW of clean, safe, and reliable energy to more than 40,000 households in France. It will be located about 17 kilometers from the coastal town of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône (near Marseille) in a water depth of about 100 meters.

The first float of the Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm was launched in May 2023. An impressive operation that marks a new milestone in the development of floating offshore wind in France.

Boluda Towage played a part in launching the floats for Provence Grand Large’s pilot offshore wind turbine project. Three tugs from our Marseille fleet were on the job for these substantial and highly technical operations.

The PGL floats have a length of 80 to 90 meters, a width of 80 to 90 meters, 15 meters above the water line, and 25 meters submerged.

The 8.4 MW Siemens Gamesa turbines will be installed on floating foundations built by SBM and IPFEN. The floating structures are tethered to the sea bottom by wires. Prysmian Group will connect the turbines to the public electricity transmission grid operated by RTE via a 19-kilometer submarine cable and a 9-kilometer underground cable.

Provence Grand Large is a small-scale pilot project intended to demonstrate that offshore floating wind farms can become economically viable and is the first “pre-commercial” floating offshore wind farm in France.