"Reviving the Local Economy Without Harming the Ecosystem"... Fishermen Welcome France's First Offshore Wind Farm ①

The Path to a Just Transition
Ⅲ. Offshore Wind Power That Saved Fishermen
A Visit to France's First Offshore Wind Farm
Over 1,200 New Jobs Created
Small Nearby Cities Also Attract More Tourists

Editor's NoteFollowing their coal phase-out, the UK and France are expanding the adoption of renewable energy. Offshore wind power is a representative field. Offshore wind farms are a clean energy source directly linked to energy security and the future business of companies, but fishermen have opposed the construction of offshore wind farms, citing disruptions to their livelihoods. How did the UK and France, which play leading roles in the energy transition sector, resolve conflicts with fishermen?

"After visiting the offshore wind farm myself and attending information sessions with local residents, I realized I could accept it."

Kapellien (44), who has been running a cafe for five years in the small coastal village of Batz-sur-Mer in the Brittany region of western France, recalled the situation during the construction of the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm in 2022, saying, "At first, there were significant concerns among residents, but now we are able to understand."

Kapellien (right), who has been running a cafe for five years in Batz-sur-Mer, France, is showing a Q&A booklet on offshore wind power provided to merchants. Photo by Jinyoung Jeon.

On June 4, I visited Batz-sur-Mer, a small village located a 30-minute drive from Saint-Nazaire, where France's first offshore wind farm was established. Its proximity to Saint-Nazaire makes it possible to see the offshore wind farm at a glance from the coastline. The total area of the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm is 78 square kilometers (about 23.59 million pyeong).

A view of the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm seen from Batz-sur-Mer, France. The offshore wind farm stretches widely behind small fishing boats near the coast. Photo by Jin Young Jeon.

Local merchants strongly opposed the construction of the offshore wind farm, calling it an "eyesore." Although the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm officially received project approval in 2019, merchants and residents in neighboring areas continued to raise concerns.

Kapellien explained, "There were frequent debates over the pros and cons of building the wind farm, and the government often took us to sites with offshore wind facilities to persuade us." He continued, "Merchants and residents who visited the site by boat were able to see the situation firsthand and alleviate their concerns. There were also many worries that the offshore wind farm might damage the ecosystem, but the government conducted an environmental impact assessment comparing the number of birds and fish before and after the installation of the offshore wind facilities, and announced that there was no significant change."

Showing a Q&A booklet on offshore wind power for merchants, he added, "Some hotels were initially uncomfortable with the idea that offshore wind farms would be visible when opening their windows, but now they see the wind farm as an attraction to draw tourists."

The operation of the Saint-Nazaire wind farm is managed by EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the French state-owned energy group EDF. Charlotte Sougliani, head of regional cooperation and development projects for the Saint-Nazaire wind farm, said, "Once residents realized that the construction of the wind farm would benefit the region's development, their attitude shifted from 'opposition' to 'welcome.'"

She explained, "During the long seven-year preparation period, we went through administrative approval procedures, regional consultations, technical design and environmental impact analysis, and public hearings." She added, "There was opposition, but the fact that the energy transition to address climate change would also help the local economy worked positively."

"A Shipbuilding Powerhouse, Korea... Ideal Conditions for Offshore Wind Power"

The reason local residents turned in favor of building the wind farm was their confidence that offshore wind power would help the local economy without damaging the ecosystem. At that time, about 800 French companies participated in the construction of the offshore wind farm. In the area near Saint-Nazaire, which is strong in shipbuilding, more than 1,200 new jobs were created.

Sougliani stated, "When building the offshore wind farm, we allocated work to companies and subcontractors located in the Saint-Nazaire area. A representative example is the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, which manufactures large vessels. Since there are many capable companies in the region where the shipyard is located, it is an ideal environment for building an offshore wind farm."

Offshore wind power has developed into a new future industry. Sougliani explained, "Chantiers de l'Atlantique has successfully diversified its business by manufacturing offshore wind substations for France and Northern European countries. Soon, this area will account for 20% of the company's sales." She also predicted, "As maintenance is important for French offshore wind farms, participation by French companies will continue to increase."

Offshore wind power cruise available at the Saint-Nazaire coastline. It is popular as you can observe the offshore wind farm with a professional guide for about 3 hours. Provided by EDF Renewables

Resolving conflicts with Saint-Nazaire fishermen, who wanted to continue fishing activities during the construction of the offshore wind farm, was also important. She said, "Since it was possible to catch lobsters and large crabs by going out to sea, we accepted the fishermen's wishes and created an environment where they could continue their activities." She added, "When fishing was not possible due to ongoing construction, we calculated the fishermen's lost sales and provided compensation."

Sougliani continues to communicate with various stakeholders in the region regarding the offshore wind farm. She said, "We also share scientific research results and monitoring information related to the ecosystem with environmental organizations."

Visitors are touring the interior of the EOL Wind Power Center in Saint-Nazaire, France. Photo by Jin Young Jeon.

The Success of the First Offshore Wind Farm Changed Perceptions of Renewable Energy

From the Saint-Nazaire coastline, cruises are operated for both residents and tourists. The cruise takes about three hours and costs 35 euros (about 55,000 won) per adult. It is popular because you can go out to sea and observe the wind turbines up close. EDF Renewables directly trains the tour guides, increasing the reliability of the cruise tours. EDF Renewables also operates programs for children, teenagers, and university students to visit offshore wind farm maintenance bases or the wind farm itself.

Arnaud Glaize, head of communications at the Saint-Nazaire Tourism Office, said, "The tourist cruises, which operate from May to September, sell out every year," and added, "The topic of offshore wind power generation has attracted great interest from visitors, leading to its success." He continued, "Since France's first offshore wind farm in Saint-Nazaire was the subject of much discussion and debate, visitors want to see the successful wind farm for themselves."

A wind turbine installed at the Saint-Nazaire EOL Wind Power Center. The turbine rotates when you pedal the bicycle installed in front, allowing visitors to intuitively understand offshore wind power through hands-on experience. Photo by Lee Hyunju

Along with the cruises, the Saint-Nazaire EOL Wind Power Center is also attracting attention as a tourist destination. When Saint-Nazaire decided to build France's first offshore wind farm, the tourism office also created a visitor center in the form of a museum. This was because they saw the need to provide neutral and objective information about renewable energy, including wind power. About 40,000 people visit the EOL Wind Power Center each year. Since renewable energy topics are covered in the French education curriculum, there are especially many group tours by students and teachers.

Jean Charles, a tourist who visited the center with his children, said, "There was a perception that offshore wind farms were unsightly, but seeing them in person dispelled that misunderstanding. I also learned that although the development period is long and the installation costs are high, it is very environmentally friendly."

This feature was supported by the Press Promotion Fund, financed by government advertising fees.