Wind developers across Europe are struggling to secure permits , and France is one of the worst offenders . President Emmanuel Macron 's government has spent a year pondering which authority can issue permits and , with no decision imminent , wind projects are starting to stall . According to WindEurope , 118 MW of projects were granted in 2018 when 500 were on offer , while no offshore schemes have been secured since 2012 . Indeed, France’s Multi-annual Energy Plan foresees an increase in electricity demand in the medium term, which sits well with the government’s plans to develop nuclear: only an increase in electricity demand can legitimise the construction of new plants. In December , the French government unveiled plans to speed up the development of onshore wind , but critics suggested the delay to the wind industry is aimed at favouring the country 's nuclear industry .
Wind developers across Europe are struggling to secure permits , and France is one of the worst offenders . President Emmanuel Macron 's government has spent a year pondering which authority can issue permits and , with no decision imminent , wind projects are starting to stall . According to WindEurope , 118 MW of projects were granted in 2018 when 500 were on offer , while no offshore schemes have been secured since 2012 . In December , the French government unveiled plans to speed up the development of onshore wind , but critics suggested the delay to the wind industry is aimed at favouring the country 's nuclear industry .