EDF Energies Nouvelles, through its subsidiary Reetec, has acquired Offshore Wind Solutions (OWS), a German based provider of offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M).
The acquisition will enable EDF Energies Nouvelles to expand its footprint in Germany and strengthen its offshore wind activity,
OWS, founded in 2014, is responsible for O&M at the 400MW BARD Offshore 1 wind farm located in the North Sea, 95km off the German coast. The wind farm features 80 turbines of 5MW each.
OWS' owner Ocean Breeze Energy has secured the renewal of the offshore wind facility maintenance contract for 10 years.
The acquisition will shift 188 employees from OWS to Reetec, which will now have over 350 O&M specialists.
The Operations Control Center for offshore wind in Emden, which is considered as the cradle of the German offshore wind industry, is also owned by OWS. The center is in direct proximity to many North Sea offshore wind farms.
EDF Group renewable energy senior executive vice president and EDF Energies Nouvelles CEO Antoine Cahuzac said: “We are delighted to welcome the OWS staff who will share its unique experience of the O&M activity in the offshore wind sector with EDF Energies Nouvelles.
“This deal is a good opportunity for the EDF Group which has strong ambitions in the offshore wind project development, in line with its CAP 2030 strategy aimed at strengthening its presence in renewable energies by 2030, both in France and abroad by 2030.”
Currently, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates 14GW of renewable capacity across 11 countries.