Saipem’s floating offshore wind platform lined up for Italian auction bids

A Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners-led consortium plans to enter two projects in Italy’s first offshore wind auctions using floating platforms designed by offshore oil and gas services group Saipem.

The Divento consortium – completed by oil major Eni’s Plenitude renewables subsidiary, Italian sovereign wealth fund CDP Equity, and developers 7Seas Wind Power and NiceTechnology – plans to use Saipem’s Star 1 technology at their projects.

It aims to secure contracts for difference (CfDs) for the 252MW 7 Seas Med project off Sicily and 504MW Ichnusa project off Sardinia in Italy’s upcoming offshore wind tenders.

Saipem’s Star 1 floating wind technology (above) is a star-shaped, four-column semi-submersible platform, which uses a passive ballast system The Italian firm claims it has a very light structure, and low draft, which helps for integrating a wind turbine.

Saipem has completed feasibility studies for using Star 1 at projects in the EU, the US and Asia Pacific regions.

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