Pan-European renewables developer Galileo has entered into a joint venture (JV) to develop a 525MW floating wind project off Apulia in southern Italy.
The JV is with Hope Group, an Apulia-based player that designs renewable energy and hydrogen plants.
The project and JV are both called Lupiae Maris, from Lupiae, the ancient Roman name of the nearby town of Lecce.
The project will host 35 floating wind turbines of 15MW capacities in the Southern Adriatic Sea between Brindisi and Lecce.
Due to the availability of floating offshore wind foundations, which allow access to a deeper seabed than the conventional fixed-bottom offshore turbines, the plant will be located several kilometres from the coast, at a greater distance than that of conventional offshore projects.
Additionally, the project’s particular position will also allow the exploitation of a stronger wind resource – one of the highest in the Adriatic Sea.
The project concept was developed entirely in Apulia and development activities launched in late 2020.
Following the completion of environmental impact studies, including those on the seabed, birdlife, mammals, and landscape, in the coming months the Project will be ready to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application.
Subsequently, in the first half of 2023, the JV will launch a campaign to make a precise assessment of the wind resource at sea.
“The enormous advancements made by the offshore wind technology in recent years, especially in Northern Europe, will enable substantial installations also in the Italian seas, generating large amounts of renewable energy for the country.
“We are convinced that the Lupiae Maris project represents a great opportunity to develop new industrial capabilities and an innovative supply chain, both in Apulia and in the rest of Italy”, said Francesco Dolzani, Chairman of Lupiae Maris and Business Development Director of Galileo in Italy.