Galileo’s 1110MW Barium Bay floating offshore wind farm has obtained its positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decree from Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
The project is located along the stretch of Adriatic Sea between the cities of Bari and Barletta, in the Apulia Region, south of Italy.
Galileo has developed the project with Hope Group, an Italian company active in the design of renewable energy plants.
Barium Bay is the largest offshore wind farm to have achieved this milestone in Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, the pair said.
The EIA will allow Barium Bay to participate in the auction procedure outlined in the FER 2 Decree (decree for Renewable Energy Sources incentives), which allocates a long-term Contract for Difference to 3800MW of offshore wind energy.
The floating offshore wind project, located more than 45 kilometres from the coast, is nevertheless designed with two offshore substations with fixed-bottom foundations thanks to favourable bathymetry.
Hope Group’s chief executive Michele Scoppio said: “We are thrilled to have obtained this achievement as Hope Group was founded with the aim of being an active part of Italy’s energy transition process.
“We have worked passionately to design a project capable of generating sustainable energy without impacting the environment and landscape, and this result represents the culmination of work carried out with care and attention to the territory, the sea, local communities, and institutions.
“The energy produced, thanks to the wind that blows undisturbed in the Southern Adriatic Sea, will be valuable for businesses and citizens, contributing to creating a healthier territory and increasing employment in Apulia Region.”
Francesco Dolzani, chairman of the board of directors of Barium Bay and business development director for Galileo in Italy, added: “We are satisfied and proud of this milestone, which is the result of the work of numerous national and international entities and professionals we deeply wish to thank.
“We are now focused on reaching construction and commissioning milestones for the plant, which could generate thousands of skilled jobs and attract several billion euros in investment to the country.”