On the day that Technip launches its new offshore wind headquarters in Aberdeen, it has been announced that the international engineering company has joined the Iberdrola-led consortium preparing to bid for two offshore wind farm sites in France.

Iberdrola and AREVA recently announced agreement on a joint bid for up to 1.25GW of offshore wind capacity as part of the French government’s plans to reach a 6 GW target by 2020. The consortium is led by Iberdrola’s ScottishPower Renewables unit while Technip, a world leader in project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry, will be the construction and engineering partner. Areva will supply turbines.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower Renewables and also head of Iberdrola’s Glasgow-based Global Offshore Division, said: “Technip’s new offshore wind offices in Aberdeen are a welcome addition to Scotland’s growing renewable energy sector. We established our global headquarters for offshore wind in Glasgow over a year ago, and since then a number of world leading companies have set-up offices in Scotland.

“We are also very pleased to welcome Technip into our consortium to bid for offshore wind projects in France. As a well-established company, with a strong presence in France and in all major energy capitals they are an ideal partner to help us bid for these major projects.”

Ron Cookson, Senior Vice President, Technip Offshore Wind at Technip said: “We are very pleased to be part of the consortium and look forward to working with Iberdrola and its partners on the French bid.  Joining the consortium also represents a key milestone for us in terms of the development of our business and is indicative of our commitment to this growing sector.”

The First Minister, Alex Salmond, said: "Technip's decision to headquarter its European offshore wind business in Aberdeen signals the leading role that Scotland is playing in the development and deployment of leading-edge clean energy generation. The MoU with Iberdrola - with its global offshore wind base in Glasgow - for developments off the French coast, underlines that the expertise being developed in Scotland can help harness not only the huge natural resources off our own coast, but the massive clean, energy resources around the world.”

Technip’s offshore wind office in Aberdeen will seek to explore opportunities in the UK’s offshore wind sector as well as further project opportunities across Europe.

Iberdrola is the largest wind energy company in the world and has a pipeline of around 10,000 MW in offshore wind projects across Europe, primarily in the UK.

Notes to Editors

• The French Government has a target to introduce 6000 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2020. The 1st phase (3000MW) of the process was launched in June 2011, and will see five offshore wind zones developed along the French coast

Media Information: Simon McMillan, 0141 566 4875