The Saint-Nazaire wind farm, with an installed capacity of 480 megawatts, consists of 80 wind turbines off the coast of Loire-Atlantique, France. It is expected to supply the equivalent of 400,000 households annually, or 20% of Loire-Atlantique’s electricity consumption.

The €2 billion project was developed as part of the French government’s goal to develop the country’s renewable energy sector. French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed France is aiming to have around 40 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity operational by 2050, which would equate to around 50 wind farms.

Calgary-based Enbridge, which has a 25.5% stake in the Saint-Nazaire project, also wants to expand its wind power portfolio. Since 2015, the company’s involvement in European offshore wind energy has grown significantly and includes interests in the Rampion offshore wind project in England and in the Hohe See and Albatros wind projects off the coast of Germany.

Enbridge is also a partner in three other French wind projects – Fécamp, Calvados and Provence Grand Large – currently under construction.

The company said in a statement on Wednesday that it was pleased that the Saint-Nazaire wind farm was commissioned at a time when the global energy crisis is underscoring the importance of reliable and secure energy, particularly in Europe.

“Enbridge welcomes the arrival of France’s first commercial (offshore) wind project, the Saint-Nazaire (offshore) wind farm, and our role as a leader in the global energy transition,” said Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s vice president of strategy, energy and new technologies, in a press release.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ENB)