Wind Power: From Resistance to Acceptance

French wind power development illustrates broader renewable challenges. Despite excellent resources—France has Europe's second-largest wind potential after the UK—development lagged. By 2010, France had just 5,000 MW of wind capacity while Germany had 27,000 MW. Cultural factors mattered: French aesthetic concerns about landscape impacts exceeded those in other countries.

Innovation focused on addressing these concerns. French companies developed quieter turbines and improved designs. Careful siting minimized visual impact. Community benefit schemes ensured local populations shared economic gains. Maritime prefects worked with fishermen to site offshore wind farms minimizing conflicts. These social innovations mattered as much as technical advances.

Offshore wind became a French priority, leveraging maritime engineering expertise. The Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm, operational in 2022, demonstrated French capabilities. Built by a consortium including EDF and GE (using technology from Alstom, the TGV manufacturer), it showed how traditional industrial strengths could serve renewable energy. Floating wind turbines, tested off Brittany, pushed technological boundaries.

French wind turbine manufacturing struggled against established competitors. Despite early innovations like the Vergnet two-blade turbine designed for extreme climates, French manufacturers couldn't achieve scale. The purchase of Alstom's wind division by GE symbolized both failure to create national champions and success in attracting international investment.