Italy’s Barium Bay offshore wind farm has obtained a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decree from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
This is a major step forward for the largest floating offshore wind project in Italy and the Mediterranean.
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Located in the Apulia region, south of Italy, between the cities of Bari and Barletta, Barium Bay is a collaborative effort between pan-European renewable energy platform Galileo and the Hope Group, an Italian company specialising in renewable energy plant design.
The EIA decree follows approvals from both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture, allowing Barium Bay to participate in the upcoming auction for the FER 2 Decree.
This decree outlines a contract for difference for 3,800MW of offshore wind energy, providing long-term financial incentives for renewable energy sources.
Hope Group CEO Michele Scoppio stated: “We are thrilled to have obtained this achievement as Hope Group was founded to be an active part of Italy’s energy transition process. We have worked passionately to design a project capable of generating sustainable energy without impacting the environment and landscape, and this result represents the culmination of work carried out with care and attention to the territory, the sea, local communities and institutions.
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By GlobalData“The energy produced, thanks to the wind that blows undisturbed in the southern Adriatic Sea, will be valuable for businesses and citizens, contributing to creating a healthier territory and increasing employment in Apulia region.”
The Barium Bay project, situated more than 45km from the coast, has been uniquely designed with two offshore substations featuring fixed-bottom foundations, made possible by the area’s favourable bathymetry.
With a capacity of 1,110MW, the wind farm will generate more than three billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough to meet the energy requirements of more than one million Italian households, significantly contributing to the country’s renewable energy goals.
Galileo and Hope Group established a joint venture in February 2023 to develop the Barium Bay offshore wind farm.
Barium Bay chairman of the board of directors and business development director for Galileo in Italy Francesco Dolzani stated: “We are satisfied and proud of this milestone, which is the result of the work of numerous national and international entities and professionals we deeply wish to thank.
“We are now focused on reaching construction and commissioning milestones for the plant, which could generate thousands of skilled jobs and attract several billion euros in investment to the country.”
