France is becoming less attractive in terms of wind that some countries in Eastern Europe because of regulatory constraints on the sector, says the CEO of EDP Renovaveis France, a subsidiary of energy company Portuguese.
France, aims to install 19,000 megawatts (MW) of onshore wind by 2020 but the "Grenelle of the environment" has increased the administrative strata including parks by submitting to the rules governing classified facilities for protection Environment (ICPE).
In terms of offshore wind, Frédéric Lanoë also concerned that the size of the recent tender of the French government is insufficient to establish a price competition.
"The wind projects are capital-financed by actors who are like us in many countries, since they are European-offs," he told Reuters on Thursday.
The rankings include ICPE forced to respect a distance of about twenty km from the masts of wind and weather radars in France and the army, which limits the number of areas available for their implementation.
"Currently almost 3,000 MW are blocked for reasons of speed cameras," said Frédéric Lanoë arguing that technological advances that reduce the trace of wind turbines on radar with a suitable paint.
EDPR in France operates 284 MW of installed capacity in onshore wind, or 5% of the capacity French, but most of its business is in the U.S. with 3,200 MW and Spain (2,050 MW).
The decline of France's attractiveness is also due to delay in the publication of regional patterns should determine the geographic areas allowed, the increase in tax due to the abandonment of the business tax and the many legal remedies, estimated Frédéric Lanoë yet.
Almost systematic recourse
"You end up with a compression of our very substantial margins that makes projects in France are far less attractive than projects in Romania or Poland," he added.
EDPR plans to have one.700 MW installed in Poland, slightly more than the capacity of an EPR-type nuclear reactor, 990 MW and 610 MW in France in Romania.
"There were good years but now in France do not follow megawatts. It is related to the combined effect of spatial constraints, the length of the instructions and use that freeze plans," said Frédéric Lanoë.The deadline for obtaining a building permit in France about two years against six months in Belgium, he said.
EDPR also search for partners to respond to the call for tenders launched in July by the Government for the implementation of 3000 MW offshore
"We are ready, we develop 2,500 MW in Scotland, we work on alliances, we will answer the call for tenders if we think that is likely to have the project and is profitable" at he said.
France, currently has no offshore wind farm and aims to install 6,000 MW by 2020 when England is 32,000 MW and 10,000 in Germany.
"The concern is the size of 3,000 MW that will help feed some players, but is it that there will be room for others?" Asked Frederic Lanoë.
The CEO of EDP Renovaveis wishes that the second phase of the tender announced for 3000 MW in April 2012 is advanced and more ambitious in order to attract more players and allow competition on prices.