A floating autonomous platform named MARE has been deployed 27 kilometers off the mouth of the Rhône River to monitor flying wildlife and weather conditions in the area where a future floating wind farm, called the Mediterranean Grand Large, will be built. The platform, which stands for "Measurements and Radar Analysis for the Environment," was launched on September 23, 2026, from the port of Fos-sur-Mer in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. It is developed by the company Ocergy and is anchored 100 meters below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. The structure, which resembles a large metallic tripod, is 28 meters in diameter, 16 meters high, and weighs 42 tons. It is positioned south of an area known as "Golfe de Fos 1," which is part of the AO6 tender, a government initiative to develop floating wind farms in the region. Unlike traditional installations, MARE is not connected to the mainland by any cables. Instead, it generates its own electricity using 18 solar panels, three small wind turbines, and a battery system. This energy autonomy allows the platform to function continuously without the need for a supply ship. At the center of the platform is a specialized radar designed to track the movement of birds and bats, some of which are known to fly over the open sea. The monitoring will continue for three years, covering multiple migration seasons and identifying flight paths that may be affected by the future wind farm. The primary goal of MARE is to collect environmental data that will help engineers design the floating wind farm. Over the course of one year, the platform will measure wave height, wind speed, ocean currents, and "meteorological turbulence"—factors that are crucial for determining the size and strength of the floating structures and their anchoring systems. Ocergy will be responsible for maintaining the platform, while Biotope, an independent engineering firm specializing in ecological studies, will analyze the radar data collected. The deployment of MARE comes two years ahead of the planned construction of the Mediterranean Grand Large wind farm. When completed, the wind farm will consist of up to 19 floating wind turbines, located more than 25 kilometers from the coast, and will have a combined power output of between 230 and 280 megawatts. The wind farm is expected to begin operations in 2032 and is projected to remain in service for approximately 30 years. It is one of three major commercial floating wind farms planned along the French Mediterranean coastline.