Saipem and Divento (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Eni Plenitude, CDP Equity,  7 Seas Wind Power and Nice Technology) have signed a collaboration agreement to apply Saipem’s STAR 1 floating wind technology to the 7 Seas Med and Ichnusa Wind Power projects in Sicily and Sardinia. Saipem was selected after a competitive technical-economic feasibility procedure.

The 7 Seas Med floating wind project is located in the Strait of Sicily over 35 km from the coast. The project has a capacity of 252 MW and up to 21 turbines, and is the first of its kind in Italy to receive the environmental compatibility decree from the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. Ichnusa Wind Power is a project about 40 km from the south-western coast of Sardinia, with a capacity of 504 MW and up to 42 turbines. Both projects have yet to attain final approval from authorities.

Although early stage, the projects are likely to be among the first to be deployed in Italy. With an experience developer in emerging markets on board in CIP, and with a large Italian company as a backer in Eni Plenitude, the projects could have an advantage in navigating the lengthy approval process in Italy and be first-to-market. Given that both are relatively small, and located over 35 km from shore, the local resistance seen for many projects in Italy can also be reduced. Given approval within the next 2-3 years, the projects could be operational in the range of 2032-2035.

The partnership supports Diventos participation in Italy’s first renewable energy auctions for subsidy support, called FER 2. No dates for the round have been announced. The agreement strengthens Italy’s offshore wind sector by combining Italian and Northern European expertise, aiming to boost local industry and renewable energy production.

Image Credit: Saipem