Consultation launches for Italian offshore wind projects

Renewables

Italy – Nora Ventu, a company formed by a partnership between Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy, has launched a consultation to provide more information to local communities on two offshore wind projects planned for the Gulf of Cagliari.

Nora Ventu has started a series of meetings with local stakeholders to outline its plans for two offshore floating wind farms, Nora Energia 1 in the south-west and Nora Energia 2 in the south-east, with a combined installed capacity of around 1.4 GW. This local engagement begins before the authorization procedure begins, with the first step being a preliminary consultation process known as scoping, which will define the scope of the environmental impact study.

The company’s project proposals are based on Falck Renewables’ extensive experience in the Italian energy sector and BlueFloat Energy’s expertise in floating offshore wind technology, which allows wind turbines to be placed in deep water without the use of fixed foundations. This reduces the project’s impact on the marine and onshore environment and allows the wind resource to be harnessed where it is most abundant, increasing the wind farms’ efficiency and contributing to Sardinia’s energy needs. At the end of December 2021, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility and the Cagliari Port System Authority received requests for maritime concessions for each of the two projects.

Local impact

The developers of the Nora Energia 1 and Nora Energia 2 projects are pursuing a collaborative and value-sharing approach with the local communities in addition to generating clean energy. The proposed projects will have a significant impact on the local economy and supply chain, with an estimated 4,000 direct jobs created during the manufacturing, assembly, and construction phases. The projects are expected to create more than 300 long-term jobs for maintenance activities once they are operational, with around 80% of the workforce coming from the local area.

During both the construction and operation phases, goods and services for the floating offshore wind farm will be primarily sourced from local businesses, maximizing the use of local labor, expanding skills through advanced training schemes, and providing significant opportunities for local businesses. Local infrastructure will also benefit because the projects will rely on major industrial ports, such as the Port of Cagliari, for the assembly, operation, and maintenance of the wind farms, allowing for infrastructure and service diversification.

Collaboration opportunities

As the wind farm projects progress, there will be opportunities for study and research, as well as the possibility of collaborating on cutting-edge projects with Sardinian universities, research centers, and technology parks. The proposed offshore wind farms, which would be located outside of territorial waters, would be almost imperceptible to the human eye from the coast, according to visual impact analyses already completed and due to be submitted in the coming weeks.

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