Current Role and Responsibilities
Benoit Rigal serves as Senior Vice President, Offshore Wind at EDF Renewables North America, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. In this executive leadership capacity, he leads the engineering, construction, and program management departments, overseeing the full life cycle of wind energy projects, particularly in the offshore wind sector.
He is directly responsible for managing technical studies, procurement, logistics, construction, and commissioning of all wind energy projects within EDF Renewables North America. His leadership includes technical support for future project development throughout Canada and the United States, evidencing a broad operational mandate over significant renewable infrastructure projects.
Career Progression and Experience
Mr. Rigal joined EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF Renewables' former name) in February 2007 as Deputy Head of Construction based in Paris. In that role, he oversaw engineering and construction initiatives for wind and solar projects across Europe, including France, Greece, Italy, and the UK. He also served as Technical Coordinator for EDF EN’s involvement in the Saint Laurent Energies consortium.
Subsequently, he relocated to Quebec, Canada, as Technical Director for EDF Renewables, managing construction and development activities regionally.
Before EDF, Benoit held progressive positions at Technip Group as a construction and project engineer on large infrastructure projects in Bahrain, Singapore, and Qatar, adding extensive international engineering and project execution experience.
Project Portfolio and Scale
Under his oversight, Benoit Rigal has managed over 1,300 MW of wind power capacity across eight sites in Canada, as well as approximately 300 MW spread over ten sites in the United States. This scale indicates a deep familiarity with multi-site, multi-megawatt renewable energy project delivery, including compliance with complex regulatory environments.
Notably, he has been involved in prominent projects such as the 150 MW Massif du Sud Wind Project, developed in partnership with Enbridge, emphasizing his engagement with strategic partnerships and working within regional environmental and community frameworks.
He also played a senior role in commissioning the Palen Solar project, with a capacity of 620 MW solar paired with 200 MWh battery storage, further demonstrating a cross-technology project management portfolio, encompassing both wind and solar with integrated energy storage.
Educational Background
Benoit Rigal holds a Mastère Spécialisé in Innovation & Technology Management from EM Lyon, a prestigious French business school. Additionally, he completed five years of engineering studies at ECAM Lyon (Ecole Catholique d’Arts et Métiers), covering mechanical, electrical, materials, and civil engineering disciplines. This interdisciplinary engineering education underpins his technical and management expertise in complex renewable infrastructure development.
Professional Network and Location
- Based in Montreal, Quebec.
- Maintains a strong professional network with 500+ connections on LinkedIn, indicating active engagement within the renewable energy and engineering sector communities.
Company Context — EDF Renewables North America
EDF Renewables is a market-leading independent power producer focused on wind (onshore/offshore), solar photovoltaic, storage, and electrical vehicle charging infrastructure. The company is committed to delivering large-scale renewable energy assets, including exclusive development rights and an operational portfolio expanded through significant project awards by government bodies and strategic partners.
In recent years, EDF Renewables North America has experienced a period of robust growth in its project pipeline and operational capacity, enhancing its market position in the United States and Canada across multiple renewable technologies.
In summary, Benoit Rigal is a seasoned senior executive at EDF Renewables North America with comprehensive responsibility for the engineering, construction, and execution of large-scale wind and solar projects — particularly with a focus on offshore wind development. His combined technical engineering background and international project management experience equip him to oversee complex, multi-megawatt renewable energy infrastructure projects throughout North America. His role indicates strategic oversight of future development and operations, positioning him as a key decision-maker within EDF Renewables’ growth trajectory in the offshore wind market and broader renewable sector.
