He is revered by both sailing enthusiasts and renewable energy advocates. In Greek mythology, Aeolus was a gifted sailor who was given the power by Zeus to call forth or extinguish the winds.
Off the coast of Saint-Brieuc, its name is pronounced every day by those who applaud or hate the new offshore wind farm. Its 62 masts, reaching 207 meters high, should produce 1,820 gigawatt hours per year, or almost 10% of Brittany’s electricity consumption. The second French installation of its kind after that of Saint-Nazaire, the offshore wind farm has been fully operational since the end of May.
Maritime activities return on July 1
A month after this official commissioning, the maritime prefecture has just announced that maritime activities will be able to resume from July 1st. They had been prohibited throughout the area since March 21, 2023 to allow the construction site to move forward. But be careful, there are rules to follow.
Let us first clarify that only boats less than 25 meters in length can enter the zone and at a speed not exceeding 12 knots (22 km/h). It is also prohibited for any boat to approach within 50 meters of the wind turbines and within 200 meters of the electrical substation.
A mandatory identification system
Anchoring is also prohibited in the park, except in an emergency. Likewise, not all water activities are permitted. Thus, aerotracted devices such as kitesurfing are prohibited, as is scuba diving. Boaters wishing to venture into the area will also need to connect their automatic identification system (AIS) at night and in cases of reduced visibility.
As for the fishermen, many of whom have opposed the wind farm project since the contract was awarded in 2011, they will also get their garden back in the coming days. “A reopening of the park to users, including professional fishing, is planned for July 1, 2024. The State, the Côtes-d’Armor departmental fisheries committee and the operator are working together in this direction,” specifies the maritime prefecture.
Upcoming checks in the area
To control the resumption of activities, the State plans to deploy the maritime gendarmerie, customs, maritime affairs, and the national navy in the area “in an educational approach in order to raise awareness of the regulations in force”. Violators may ultimately be punished. The cameras and surveillance systems installed by the operator Ailes Marines to ensure the safety and security of its installations could “serve as evidence in the event of prosecution of offenders”, warns Prémar.
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