The French Dieppe-Le Tréport and Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore projects, which have a combined capacity of nearly 1GW, will now be equipped with SGRE's direct-drive SWT 8MW turbines.
The French government approved the switch to the Siemens unit for the two projects after a review by the Energy Regulation Commisssion.
SGRE has also applied to Nicholas Hulot, minister for ecological and inclusive transition, to switch turbines for the Bay of Saint-Brieuc project.
The decision to discontinue the AD8 does not affect plans for Adwen, which SGRE took over in March, to build two factories, one for nacelles and the other for blades, in Le Havre, France. The factories had been earmarked for production of 8-9MW turbines.
The proposed change for the Bay of Saint-Brieuc site is currently waiting approval.
"This decision is a crucial milestone for the French offshore wind industry," said Michael Hannibal, Siemens Gamesa CEO for offshore.
"I am convinced this will help the industry take off and I am happy to see that all parties involved, including our customers and the French State, acknowledge the benefits of installing the D8 in these projects."
Adwen’s 8MW-180 turbine had been selected for the three French offshore sites. The company has no further orders for the 8MW model in the pipeline.
The manufacturer carried out a restructuring programme in June, in which its CEO Luis Alvarez was asked to leave and the company was split into two divisions, Adwen Operations and French Pipeline, against the backdrop of an uncertain future.
