The French government has picked a venture between state-controlled utility Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) and Danish company Dong Energy Power to build and operate three wind farms off Atlantic and Channel coasts.

The group will install wind farms with a combined capacity of 1.4 gigawatts using wind turbines made by French manufacturer Alstom SA (ALO.FR), the energy ministry said Friday in a statement. Alstom said it will set up factories to make about 240 turbines for the projects starting in 2014. The turbines represent EUR2 billion in new orders for the company.

The projects are part of the French government's effort to boost wind-powered electricity generation. The goal is to install 6 gigawatts of capacity in offshore wind farms to supply the national grid at a guaranteed price.

The government also picked a group owned by Spain's Iberdrola SA (IBE.MC) and EOLE-RES SA to build and operate a fourth wind farm located offshore in Northern France. Iberdrola and EOLE-RES will install wind turbines made by engineering company Areva (AREVA.FR).

There weren't enough bidders to grant a contract for a fifth wind farm, off the Normandy shore. French power company GDF Suez SA (GSZ.FR) had bid for the farm in partnership with construction firm Vinci SA (DG.FR) and Areva.

The four selected wind farms represent investments of about EUR7 billion and will lead to the creation of as many as 10,000 jobs. A new tender for more wind farms will be held in the second half of this year, the ministry said.
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