BW Ideol Secures €126 Million in Public Funding for Its Fos-sur-Mer Floater Factory

BW Ideol announces securing up to €126 million in public funding for its Fos3F factory project, dedicated to producing concrete floaters for floating offshore wind. These funds come from two distinct sources: €74 million from the European Union (EU) Innovation Fund and €52 million from the French government. In a sector where supply chain localisation has become a strategic priority — as illustrated by the agreement between Vestas and Japan's METI on local wind turbine nacelle assembly — this financing reflects institutional commitment to Europe's floating wind industry. The grant agreement with the European Commission was officially signed on March 19.

A pioneering factory in Fos-sur-Mer

The Fos3F factory will be located in Fos-sur-Mer and aims to become the world's first facility dedicated to producing concrete floaters for floating offshore wind. Its production capacity will reach up to 30 floaters per year, based on BW Ideol's patented Damping Pool® technology. According to the company, the facility would be capable of supplying a significant share of planned floating wind projects in the Mediterranean. BW Ideol targets delivery of its first concrete floaters by 2030, according to statements by Paul de la Guérivière, President of BW Ideol. The local production approach mirrors a broader industry trend, as Hai Long installed its first wind turbine using a locally assembled nacelle in Taiwan.

The European funding was announced in November 2025 and formalised through the signing of the grant agreement on March 19 with the European Commission. The Innovation Fund ranks among the world's largest support programmes for innovative low-carbon technologies. The grant is capped at €74 million.

France's C3IV tax credit mobilised

The French government's contribution flows through the C3IV tax credit scheme (crédit d'impôt au titre des investissements dans l'industrie verte), aimed at accelerating the reindustrialisation of French green industry companies. Selected under this framework at the end of 2025, the Fos3F project would benefit from support of up to €52 million, intended to partially cover development costs and capital expenditure (CAPEX). BW Ideol highlights that this institutional backing would reinforce the project's credibility and its capacity to secure a local supply chain, less exposed to international tensions and price volatility.

Paul de la Guérivière, President of BW Ideol, states that this dual public support places the group in the best conditions to deliver its first concrete floaters. He highlights the ability to produce high-quality floating foundations at a competitive cost through local manufacturing. BW Ideol reports more than 14 years of experience in designing, executing and developing floating wind projects. The company operates two full-scale floating offshore wind turbines in France and Japan, and draws on BW Offshore's expertise in developing and operating offshore energy production systems.