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All 72 of the 5,000-tonne gravity-based foundations for France’s 500-megawatt (MW) Fécamp offshore wind farm are now complete.

All about the Fécamp offshore wind farm

The €2 billion ($2.25 billion) Fécamp wind farm features 71 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 7 MW each. It will generate electricity for around 770,000 people in Normandy.

Each of Fécamp’s 71 gravity-based foundations, which were built at the Grand Port Maritime site in Le Havre, measures between 48m (157 feet) and 54m (177 feet) in height.

The Consortium of Bouygues Travaux Publicis, Saipem, and Boskalis (BSB) supplied and installed the foundations for the Fécamp offshore wind farm, which is sited between 13 and 22 km (8 and 13.6 miles) off the coast of Normandy. The first foundation was transported out to sea by barge and installed in August.

Photo: Heerema Marine Contractors

The three companies were awarded the €552 million contract in early 2020 by EDF Renewables, Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge, and German clean energy developer wpd Offshore. The started manufacturing Fécamp’s gravity-based foundations in December 2020.

Check out the load-out operations for these giant foundations in this short video:

Meanwhile, the wind turbines were made at the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) manufacturing plant in Le Havre and assembly is done at the Port of Cherbourg.

The Fécamp wind farm is expected to come online in 2023.

What’s a gravity-based foundation?

Gravity-based foundations for offshore wind farms are made on land of precast concrete, and they’re either taken to sea by ship or floated out. They can be sited in depths up to 30m (98 feet). The NRDC explains:

Once offshore, the gravity-based foundation is filled with water and sand, sinking the base so that it sits firmly on a layer of gravel that has been prepared on the seabed. It is then ready for the wind turbine to be installed on top of the foundation.

Windpower Engineering explained the advantages of gravity-based foundations:

  • Uses lower-cost materials like concrete and steel.
  • Proven technology borrowed from oil and gas industries.
  • Some designs do not need crane installation.
  • Tugboats can move port-assembled floated-to-fixed GBFs into place, reducing costs and risk.

And they also explained what’s not so good:

  • Seabed preparation, like dredging, is typically required. This can disturb a significant amount (up to 7%) of the wind farm’s site.
  • A larger installed footprint may increase the turbine’s environmental impact.
  • Invasive species introduction is possible when towing foundations from port to site.

Read more: Final turbine installed on France’s first offshore wind farm, with Macron pushing hard on renewables

Photo: Pascal Rossgnol/Reddit, May 1, 2022


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Mercedes-Benz offers an exclusive first look at the new electric GLC

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Mercedes-Benz offers an exclusive first look at the new electric GLC

Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to unveil the electric version of its best-selling SUV, the GLC, later this year. With its official debut just around the corner, Mercedes revealed a few new details, offering an exclusive first look at the new EV.

Mercedes offers an exclusive look at the new electric GLC

Although we got a sneak peek of the electric SUV in March during winter testing in Northern Sweden, Mercedes is giving us a better idea of what to expect.

“We’re not just introducing a new model – we’re electrifying our top seller,” Mercedes-Benz Group CEO, Ola Källenius, said on Thursday.

Mercedes promises the electric GLC “sets new standards” with a sleek new design, advanced tech, and its new MB.OS operating system.

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The new GLC EV is an upgrade over the current model, offering significantly more space and improved ride quality. Since the wheelbase is 3.1″ longer than the current gas-powered SUV, the electric version has more legroom and headroom for front and rear passengers.

With all the seats folded, the electric SUV offers 61.4 cubic feet of space. The gas-powered model features up to 56.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Plus, you get an extra 4.5 cu ft of space in the trunk (front trunk).

Mercedes-electric-GLC
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius with the new GLC EV (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Källenius said that with Mercedes’ new 800V electric architecture and latest batteries, the electric GLC can regain around 260 km (161 miles) WLTP range in just ten minutes. He added that DC fast charging at over 320 kW is possible.

The GLC 400 4MATIC with EQ Technology will arrive with impressive towing capability of up to 5,291 lbs. In comparison, the Tesla Model Y can only tow up to 3,500 lbs.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius tests a prototype of the new electric GLC (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Added features, such as ESP trailer stabilization and trailer maneuvering assistant, make it even easier to tow with optimized stability and control.

Källenius also teased the new electric GLC design, calling it the start of a “new era” and “a new face of the brand as the first in a family of upcoming vehicles.”

Mercedes-GLC-EV-first-look
Mercedes GLC EV prototype with EQ Technology testing in Sweden (Source: Mercedes-Benz

The inside is just as impressive, providing a holistic experience. A “majestically floating next generation MBUX Hyperscreen” is optional, providing a spatial experience powered by the new MB.OS supercomputer.

Mercedes will unveil the new electric GLC at the 2025 International Motor Show in Munich on September 7, 2025.

Mercedes-CLA-EV-interior
The new electric Mercedes CLA interior (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Although official range figures will be revealed at the event, according to Car and Driver, which tested a prototype model, Mercedes said it expects the new GLC to provide a WLTP range of just over 400 miles, or slightly more than 300 miles on the EPA scale, from a 94.5 kWh battery.

Prices will also be announced in due time, but given that the current GLC 350e 4MATIC PHEV starts at $59,900 in the US, you can expect the electric model to be priced slightly higher, at around $65,000.

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Tesla (TSLA) pushes its shareholders annual meeting all the way to November, but why?

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Tesla (TSLA) pushes its shareholders annual meeting all the way to November, but why?

Tesla (TSLA) announced its 2025 annual shareholders meeting at the very last minute, and it pushed it all the way to November, the latest it has ever held the meeting.

Tesla generally holds its annual meeting in the summer and announces it way ahead of time.

Today, the automaker announced that the meeting will be held on November 6:

The board of directors (the “Board”) of Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) has designated November 6, 2025 as the date of Tesla’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”).

This is highly unusual for Tesla. Here are the dates of Tesla’s last 5 annual meetings:

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  • 2020: September 22, 2020
  • 2021: October 7, 2021
  • 2022: August 4, 2022
  • 2023: May 16, 2023
  • 2024: June 13, 2024

At those meetings, shareholders vote on several matters, including the reelection of directors and shareholders’ proposals.

Tesla has not released any yet, but they are expected to be in the upcoming proxy statement, which Tesla should release in the coming weeks.

Why does Tesla need more time?

Electrek’s Take

I think Tesla is working on some proposals that are going to take time to put together and then to sell to shareholders – hence why the meeting is set for November.

There are two suspects: a new CEO compensation package for Musk or a merger/acquisition of xAI.

It could also be both, but I think that would be harder to swallow for some shareholders as both initiatives have a clear aim of giving Musk a bigger stake in Tesla.

I think sane investors should not want that, but Tesla shareholders don’t fit in that category. Much of Tesla’s value is attached to Musk’s lies and ridiculous predictions. The value will have to come down to reality at some point, but they are a bunch of gamblers who are enjoying the ride in the meantime.

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NIO (NIO) opens orders for the new three-row Onvo L90, starting at under $30,000

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NIO (NIO) opens orders for the new three-row Onvo L90, starting at under ,000

A three-row electric SUV for less than $30,000? Sign me up. NIO (NYSE: NIO) opened pre-orders for the new Onvo L90 on Thursday, starting from 193,900 yuan, or about $27,000.

NIO kicks off Onvo L90 pre-orders in China

NIO claims the Onvo L90 is the lightest full-size three-row SUV in its class, with a curb weight just under 5,000 lbs (2,250 kg). In comparison, the Lucid Gravity has a curb weight of 5,966 lbs (2,712 kg).

The new flagship model is designed as a family-friendly SUV, offering ample interior space and advanced technology.

At 5,145 mm long, 1,998 mm wide, and 1,766 mm tall, the Onvo L90 is slightly bigger than the Lucid Gravity. In China, it will go head-to-head with higher-end electric SUVs like Li Auto’s L9.

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However, the L9 is an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and starts at around 409,800 yuan ($57,000), more than double the price of the Onvo L90.

The low price of 193,900 yuan ($27,000) applies only to those who rent the battery. Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) costs 899 yuan ($125) a month. With the battery included, the Onvo L90 still starts at just 279,900 yuan ($39,000).

Nio’s new electric SUV is offered in six and seven-seat configurations. The interior features a massive 17.2″ floating infotainment screen at the center.

Other interior highlights include a three-zone climate control system, massage, heating, and ventilation for every seat, as well as an additional entertainment screen for rear passengers. And like many new vehicles in China nowadays, it even comes with a built-in refrigerator.

Powered by an 85 kWh battery, the Onvo L90 offers a CLTC range of 605 km (367 miles). It’s also based on NIO’s next-gen 900V platform, unlocking class-leading energy consumption of just 14.5 kWh per 100 km.

Buyers can choose from single and all-wheel-drive powertrains. The AWD version boasts up to 590 hp (440 kW), good for a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in just 4.7 seconds.

NIO is offering an incentive for early pre-order holders. Those who place an order with a 2,000 yuan deposit will receive a 5,000 yuan credit off the vehicle and an extra 5,000 yuan for optional features and more. Nio plans to begin delivering Onvo L90 to customers, starting on August 1.

The L90 is the second Onvo-branded EV to arrive in China, following the smaller L60, launched last September.

Source: CarNewsChina, NIO Onvo

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