Mapping the Workforce Shift: France’s Wind Ambitions Will Require Training Capacity to Scale

In June 2026, the French government announced a call for tenders in the Official Journal of the European Union, setting in motion a process to acquire development rights for eleven offshore wind projects generating more than 10 GW of new capacity. This development is just a snapshot of the French wind market. According to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2025-2030, published in collaboration with the Global Wind Energy Council, France is continuing to make headway in driving its onshore and offshore wind industry forward, with workforce needs across the construction, installation, operations, and maintenance phases of projects set to rise accordingly. While lengthy permitting processes, supply-chain roadblocks, and competition for skilled labour all play a role in slowing the progress of planned projects, preparing the workforce now for scaling up remains paramount to avoid bottlenecks during the peak installation phases in the years to come.

Workforce Planning as Key to Scaling

The publication of France’s third Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE3) framework in February 2026 set the energy policy direction for the next decade. Calling for a total of 15 GW of offshore wind capacity for installation by 2035, the latest PPE shows an unambiguous prioritisation of renewables on the part of the French government, including offshore wind, as this ambition to increase offshore capacity by 7.5 times the country’s current level reflects. And yet as the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2025-2030 outlines, development remains constrained by permitting and legal constraints, particularly in relation to onshore wind legislation. As a result, these challenges impact the country’s ability to scale workforce and training in accordance with future wind projects. What’s clear is that workforce planning, even in these conditions, will be central to ensuring that supply matches demand up to 2035.

Developing the Next Generation of Technicians Through Partnerships

More than 31,000 people work directly and indirectly in the wind industry,according to the latest Global Wind Workforce Outlook, and that number is set to increase by 2030. Alongside the national presence of GWO training, several organisations have benefitted from establishing partnerships to align new courses with the needs of wind industry skills for the energy transition. One such example is EDF Renouvelables’ launching a master’s programme in Energy with the École des Ponts et Chaussées in 2024 to train engineers within the area of renewables. Strengthening the provision of a variety of pathways into wind and scaling up training through standardised pathways will remain essential in ensuring the workforce can meet demand, as project construction accelerates beyond 2030.

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GWEC is a member-based organisation that represents the entire wind energy sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organisations and institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies.

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About GWO

GWO is a not-for-profit industry association founded and owned by its members who are drawn from globally leading renewable energy manufacturers, owners and operators. Our members strive for an injury free work environment, setting common international standards for safety training and workforce development. Since 2012, GWO training standards have become widely adopted by wind industry employers, seeking quality, safety and reassurance for their technicians in construction, installation, operations and maintenance around the world. GWO's 2025 Annual Report showed more than 190,000 technicians are trained according to GWO Standards.

GWO member companies

Acciona Energia, Avangrid, BayWa r.e, CGN Wind Power, Copenhagen Offshore Partners, CORIO Generation, CRRC, Dominion Energy, ENERCON, Envision, Equinor, Eurus Energy, FairWind, GE Renewable Energy, Global Wind Service, Goldwind, Muehlhan, The Nordex Group, Northland Power, Ocean Winds, Ørsted, Pattern Energy, Qair, RES Group, RWE Renewables, Shanghai Electric, Skyborn Renewables, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, SSE, TAKKION, Vattenfall and Vestas.

Media Contact Details

Sara Bastholm, Head of Communications

sb@globalwindsafety.org