(Bloomberg) -- Electricite de France SA has struck a deal to expand its portfolio of Irish offshore wind assets, in a move that marks its entry into floating technology in the country’s waters.

French energy firm EDF Renewables will form a 50:50 joint venture with Simply Blue Group to develop two floating wind projects with a combined capacity of up to 2.65 gigawatts, EDF said in a statement.

Simply Blue had been searching for a new partner for the two projects — Western Star and Emerald - since Shell Plc pulled out of a joint venture last year. The move by EDF will also be welcomed by Ireland, which is aiming to develop the country’s offshore resources and plans to have at least 37 gigawatts of capacity by 2050. 

Read: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Ambitions Founder in Sea of Red Tape

“Emerald and Western Star will complement our flagship, fixed-bottom foundation, Codling Wind Park development off the east coast of Ireland, diversifying our offshore portfolio in Ireland,” EDF Renewables UK and Ireland Chief Executive Officer Matthieu Hue said.

The partnership with Simply Blue follows EDF’s success in Ireland’s first auction of rights to build offshore wind farms, earlier this month. EDF partnered with Oslo-based Fred Olsen Seawind on a winning bid related to its Codling wind park.

The joint venture is subject to regulatory approval, which is expected in the coming months. The two proposed wind farms will aim to enter into Ireland’s third phase auction process, which intends to have projects in development by 2030, according to Simply Blue.

(Updates with details of project timeline in 6th paragraph)

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