Leading offshore contractor Saipem is to co-develop an offshore windfarm in the Adriatic off the coast of Ravenna
To this end, it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Agnes Wind Power, a company that develops renewable energy projects in the Adriatic – including offshore and nearshore windfarms, floating solar, energy storage systems and green hydrogen – and Qint’x, an Italian company specialising in renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydroelectric energy and e-mobility.
The project will involve the installation of approximately 56 turbines on fixed foundations at two different sites, one more than 8 nautical miles from shore, and the other more than 12 miles from shore. The installed capacity of the project will be approximately 450 MW.
As part of this project, the partners will also use floating solar technology based on proprietary technology from Moss Maritime, part of Saipem’s XSIGHT division.
Saipem said its XSIGHT division has already begun developing integrated solutions for renewable energy and for producing green hydrogen. It said the project will be the first to use integrated solutions and will provide an opportunity "to find an alternative solution to decommissioning oil and gas platforms in the Adriatic."
XSIGHT chief operating officer Mauro Piasere said, “Saipem has long launched a process to strengthen its presence in the renewable energy sector. In particular, through the XSIGHT division, the company’s role as developer of offshore windfarms is being defined. The MoU with Agnes and Qint’x constitutes a new important opportunity in this direction.”
Mr Piasere said the agreement is consistent with the new business model adopted by the company, which foresees it becoming a leader in the energy transition. In 2019, it reached an agreement with Plambeck to develop floating wind in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
Through the XSIGHT division, Saipem is also planning to launch similar projects in Sicily and Sardinia, also using foundations. It said that doing so would supporting the Italian shipbuilding industry.
Qint’x chief executive Alberto Bernabini said the agreement is an important step towards the realisation of what he described as “an ambitious project.
“Our vision is to create a new green energy hub in the Adriatic, integrating multiple technologies to generate clean energy from the wind, sun and hydrogen.”
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