Specifically, the deal includes a wind farm entailing 100 5MW turbines in the bay of Saint Brieuc off the coast of Brittany and the current tenders for the offshore wind farms at Le Tréport off the coast of Haute-Normandie and the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier in Pays de la Loire (France).

Under the terms of the agreement signed by the two groups, Schneider Electric will supply components such as transformers and circuit breakers for AREVA's wind farms. These components will be manufactured at two of Schneider Electric's French industrial sites, located near Metz and Grenoble.

Developed as part of the offshore wind call for tender program launched by the French government in 2011, these wind farms will not only contribute to France meeting its targets laid down in the EU's Climate and Energy Package, but also firmly establish a French sector of excellence for a promising technology. 

"The combination of expertise offered by our two companies proves highly promising for the rapid establishment of a leading French sector of excellence in offshore wind," said Frédéric Abbal, executive vice president, Energy Business Schneider Electric's Energy Business. Likewise, Louis-François Durret, CEO of AREVA Renewables, said the agreement with Schneider Electric "further underscores our commitment to developing a complete industrial sector in France, providing job creation opportunities and harnessing our local expertise.”

The deal marks the second collaboration between AREVA and Schneider Electric. Earlier this year, the pair announced a plan to develop energy management storage solutions based on hydrogen fuel cell technology.