Saipem has penned a deal with Italian wind developers AGNES and QINT’X to co-develop a 450MW wind farm in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Ravenna.
The Memorandum of Understanding will see the partners work towards the installation of approximately 56 turbines on fixed foundations on the seabed at two different sites.
One is located more than eight nautical miles from the shore, and the other more than 12 miles from the shore.
The project will also see deployment of floating solar using technology developed by Moss Maritime, part of Saipem’s XSIGHT division that focuses technologies for energy decarbonisation.
XSIGHT has also begun developing “integrated solutions” for producing green hydrogen which could see the project provide an “alternative solution” to decommissioning oil and gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea.
This project will be implemented in a highly industrialised area and the developers said local industry would be involved in its development.
XSIGHT’s chief operating officer Mauro Piasere said the project is helping to define Saipem’s new role as an offshore wind developer, which begun with its agreement with Plambeck last year to develop floating wind farms off Saudi Arabia.
He added: “Through the XSIGHT division, Saipem is planning to launch similar projects in Sicily and Sardinia as well, using floating foundations for wind turbines, thus supporting the Italian shipbuilding industry”.
QINT’X chief executive officer Alberto Bernabini added: “This agreement marks another important step towards the realization of an ambitious project.
“Our vision is to create a new green energy hub in the Adriatic Sea, integrating multiple technologies to generate clean energy from the wind, sun and hydrogen.”