The 26 turbines, rated at 2 megawatts (MW) each, are destined for the 56MW Langres Sud wind farm in France’s northwestern Champagne-Ardennes region. REpower has sold more than 400 turbines in France since establishing a subsidiary there in 2001, with chief executive Per Hornung Pedersen calling it “one of the most important wind markets in Europe”.

The deal is a sign of the deepening relationship between REpower and UK-based RES. In November, RES Canada and several partners agreed to buy 954MW of turbines from REpower, marking the Suzlon-owned firm’s largest ever sale of onshore turbines.

France has the fourth largest installed wind capacity in Europe, trailing Germany, Spain and Italy, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Wind has become the country’s fastest growing source of energy, with 950MW added in 2008.

Most of the growth in the French market is expected to come from the north and northwest. Out of 4 gigawatts of approved projects, more than 700MW are in Champagne-Ardennes.