Eiffage, through its Belgian subsidiary Smulders (part of Eiffage Métal), has secured an EPCIC (engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning) contract with RTE, France’s electricity transmission system operator. The agreement covers the development and construction of three alternating current electrical substations to connect offshore wind farms in South Brittany (AO5), Narbonnaise Sud-Hérault, and Golfe de Fos (AO6), along with their planned future expansions (AO9). The contract is valued at over €1.5 billion.
The contract includes the construction of both the foundations (jackets) and the upper structures (topsides) of the substations, which house the electrical equipment. For the Bretagne Sud project, the jackets will measure approximately 115 meters in height, 25 meters in width, and 35 meters in length. For the Narbonnaise Sud-Hérault and Golfe de Fos projects, they will be around 110 meters high, 45 meters wide, and 50 meters long. The topsides are set to weigh roughly 5,000 tonnes, with dimensions exceeding 20 meters in height, 35 meters in width, and 70 meters in length.
Each substation will have a capacity of 750 MW. Collectively, the three substations will enable the integration of more than 2 gigawatts of carbon-free electricity into the transmission grid, making a significant contribution to Europe’s carbon neutrality goals and the broader energy transition.
All substation components will be manufactured in France and across Europe, at Smulders’ workshops and those of its industrial partners. The jackets will be assembled at Eiffage Métal’s Fos-sur-Mer site in France, while the topsides will be assembled at the Vlissingen site in the Netherlands.
This project aligns with RTE’s strategy to leverage the French and European industrial base to strengthen the offshore wind power sector and maximize its economic benefits in France.
It also reinforces Eiffage’s position as a leading European player in renewable energy and supports its offshore wind growth strategy, following the recent acquisition of HSM Offshore Energy. Smulders has a strong track record, having completed 40 substations and over 2,500 transition pieces, and has contributed to major projects including the Dogger Bank, Hollandse Kust, Saint-Nazaire, and Provence Grand Large wind farms.
