In France’s rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape, offshore wind presents tremendous opportunities. To explore this potential further, Chloe Lemmonier, Business Development Manager at Empire Engineering, sat down with Benoît Brière, Partner and Lead Floating Wind Engineer, a few weeks ago to discuss the French offshore wind market.
Chloe Lemmonier in conversation with Benoît Brière, Empire Engineering.
Our Growing Presence in France
Empire Engineering’s commitment to the French offshore wind sector isn’t just talk – it’s backed by significant investment and a growing local team. With five specialised engineers working across two strategic locations in France, we’re positioned to provide responsive, specialist expertise where it’s needed most.
Our team is led by Benoît Brière, our Lead Floating Wind Engineer and a Partner in the business. This leadership structure reflects our belief in the importance of the French market to our global operations and ensures decisions can be made locally with the full weight of Empire Engineering behind them.
Talk with a specialist
We’ve been a part of some of the worlds most exciting and
complicated projects in offshore wind.
If you need more eyes, brains and hands, we’re ready to help.
A home in Marseille
Further demonstrating our long-term commitment to France, we’ve invested in establishing a permanent base in the heart of the action. Our modern office and meeting space on Marseille’s vibrant harbourside provides an ideal location for collaboration with clients and partners, with the Mediterranean, a future home of many more offshore wind farms, literally on our doorstep.
This base has already become a hub for knowledge exchange within the industry. We’ve hosted several networking events in Marseille to coincide with major French industry conferences, bringing together developers, suppliers, and specialists to advance the conversation around offshore wind in France.
Investing in Relationships
We believe in immersing ourselves in the markets we serve. That’s why last year Empire Engineering brought our entire global team to Marseille for our annual company meeting. This wasn’t just about internal discussions – the visit included a tour of a local fabrication yard for floating offshore wind foundations, deepening our understanding of the supply chain and manufacturing capabilities in the region.
Why France matters
France represents a promising market for offshore wind in Europe, with ambitious targets and favorable conditions for both fixed and floating installations. The country’s extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea offers excellent wind resources, alongside a positive policy framework for growth.
What makes the French market particularly exciting is its potential in floating offshore wind technology. With deeper waters along much of its coastline, France is ideally positioned to become a leader in this emerging segment – an area where Empire Engineering offers particular expertise.
Here to support your projects
As trusted advisors in the offshore wind sector, our specialist team brings over a decade of experience across more than 100 offshore wind projects globally. We’re ready to apply this knowledge to the unique challenges and opportunities of the French market.
Whether you’re a developer navigating the complexities of site selection and preliminary design, or a tier 1 contractor working through detailed engineering challenges, our team in France is equipped to provide the specialised expertise you need.
From Early Stage Design, Owner’s Engineer and Specialist Engineering, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to the specific requirements of offshore wind projects in French waters.
Egalement disponible avec sous-titres français.
Looking Forward
The future of offshore wind in France is bright, and Empire Engineering is proud to contribute to this success story. We’re not just observers. We’re active participants. We invite you to reach out to our team in France to discuss how we can support your offshore wind projects. Together, we can help realise the enormous potential of renewable energy in French waters and beyond.
To learn more about Empire Engineering’s services in France, contact Chloe Lemmonier or Benoît Brière.
