EDPR opens wind farm in Montagne Fayel and Moulliens-Dreuil

Paris, 17 June 2016: EDPR is celebrating the opening of a new wind farm in France today. With an installed capacity of 12 MW, the wind farm is located in the municipalities of Montagne-Fayel and Molliens-Dreuil, in the Department of Somme (Hauts-de-France). This wind farm's output will allow it to supply clean energy to almost 11,000 homes. The opening ceremony will be attended by Philippe de Mester, Prefect of the Department of Somme, Jean-Claude Buisine, Member of the French National Assembly for Somme, Jean-Jacques Stoter, Advisor to the Department of Somme, Sylvain Charbonnier, Mayor of Molliens-Dreuil, Jean-Marie Turlot, Mayor of Montagne-Fayel, and Frédéric Lanoë, Managing Director of EDPR France and Belgium. The Montagne-Fayel and Molliens-Dreuil wind farm has six wind turbines which are 130 metres tall. The installation of the wind turbines was defined based on studies which took into account human, technical, environmental and regulatory considerations. The successful completion of this project is also thanks to the excellent cooperation between the authorities, the community and other local players. EDPR France also works with the Molliens-Dreuil state school within the framework of its European educational programmes. In this particular case, the programme will help the school set up educational workshops on sustainable development and organise the end-of-term fieldtrip to an ecological farm. The EDPR team has also visited local schools on various occasions to talk to the children about the wind farm and explain how it was built. These activities are evidence of EDPR’s willingness to discuss the benefits of renewable energies and familiarise local schoolchildren with wind energy. The wind farm also contributes towards France's renewable energy targets. France has to install a total of 19,000 MW of on-shore wind energy by 2020. In March 2016, EDPR had 364 MW of installed capacity in France, being the fifth leading producer of wind energy on a nationwide level. The presence of EDPR France in the local area does not stop there. The company is also developing an off-shore wind energy project off the coast of Dieppe and Le Tréport, and another off the coast of Noirmoutier Yeu, which is operated in conjunction with Engie and CDC. Within the framework of this sizeable project, an industrial plan is being rolled out in Normandy and Les Hauts de France regions.