Siemens looks to build French offshore factory
FRANCE: Germany's Siemens says it will build a turbine assembly plant in France if it is successful in its bid under the government's tender for 3GW of offshore power.
The factory would build Siemens' 6MW offshore turbine
Siemens is bidding for a 500MW project off the north coast of Brittany, near St-Brieuc, in association with GDF Suez, Vinci and CDC Infrastructure.
Turbines produced at the factory could also be exported to projects in the UK and north European markets, the company said. It would also set up a maintenance facility near St-Brieuc.
Bids will be judged, among other things, on industrial plans and job creation. In January, the Financial Times' German edition reported that Siemens would be handicapped if it did not establish a factory in France.
Two other groups are also competing for St-Brieuc: a consortium led by EDF Energies Nouvelles with Alstom and another led by Iberdrola with Areva. Both Alstom and Areva have already announced plans to build manufacturing facilities in France if their bids are successful.
The government will announce the winners early April.
