At the inauguration of France’s first-ever offshore wind farm last week, president Emmanuel Macron voiced his displeasure that renewable projects could be completed much faster elsewhere in Europe.
“Other countries that are no less respectful than we are of wildlife managed to construct offshore wind farms in five or six years,” Macron said after touring the site off the Atlantic Coast port of Saint-Nazaire, where 80 turbines are finally turning after 11 years taken up mostly by planning and legal wrangles.
As Europe confronts the urgent need to find alternatives to Russian gas, Macron wants to speed up development of wind and solar power and attract more investors into the sector. But he faces an arduous battle to secure passage of the planned legislation as opposition politicians criticise elements of the bill, while developers say more ambitious measures are needed.