Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy take Italian floating offshore wind pipeline to 5.5GW

Developers Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy have unveiled plans for a new 975MW floating wind farm, taking their Italian offshore wind pipeline to just over 5.5GW.

They plan to build the 62-turbine 975MW Tibula Energia Tibula Energia (975MW) Offshoreoff Sardinia, Italy, Europe Click to see full details floating wind farm 25-40km off Sardinia’s coast with an estimated annual output of over 3.4TWh. 

The partners also plan to build a separate 1.4GW project off Sardinia, 675MW off Calabria, and a 1.3GW project and 1.2GW project off Apulia.

BlueFloat Energy and Falck Renewables are meeting with local stakeholders “over the next few weeks” to present the Tibula project and gain feedback before beginning the approval process with Italy’s ministry of ecological transition in a few weeks. They hope the project will support 3,200 jobs during development and around 180 when it is operational — a significant boost for Sardinia, which is one of the poorest regions in Italy. Project development will also involve collaboration with local research institutes, develop the local supply chain and work with local ports.

Ksenia Balanda, the general manager for Tibula Energia said: “We feel that the value of our projects is based on their ability to benefit local communities. Through dialogue and engagement with the local communities, we aim to create a development model that is inclusive and respectful of their needs.”

The joint venture began research one year ago into local sea and wind conditions, environmental impacts and industrial infrastructure, and submitted a request for a maritime concession on 6 May.

BlueFloat told Windpower Monthly it is too early to say at this stage when it will be commissioned and what floating platforms will be used.