Rome. The power of the wind off the coast of Puglia represents an infinite natural resource for experts in this sector. These natural factors are combined with both the ease of connection to the National Transmission Grid (RTN), which will allow environmental interference to be minimized or eliminated, and the possibility of grafting onto the Apulian industrial system and its port infrastructure.
Since last April 18, it has been possible to send expressions of interest from the Port System Authorities for the development of shipbuilding in order to create the offshore wind technological chain in our country.
The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security had issued two important public notices both on offshore wind power and for new projects for the production of hydrogen in abandoned industrial areas. For Energy Decree 181 of 2023, at least two ports in the South must be identified that fall within the Port System Authorities or port areas adjacent to those in which the gradual elimination of the use of coal is underway.
As we wrote last April 19, the Dicastery specifies that, in implementation of the provisions of article 8 of the legislative decree of December 9, 2023, n. 181, converted with amendments by Law 2 February 2024, n. 11, the public notice was published for the acquisition, by the Port System Authorities concerned, of expressions of interest for the identification of state-owned maritime areas with related bodies of water outside the breakwater defenses, to be allocated to the construction of suitable infrastructures to guarantee the development of investments in the shipbuilding sector for the production, assembly and launching of floating platforms and electrical infrastructures functional to the development of shipbuilding for the production of wind energy at sea. Expressions of interest must detail, among others, the proposed activities, the implementation times and the technical-economic feasibility of the interventions.
Expressions of interest and the documentation indicated in the Notice must be sent by May 18, 2024, to the certified email address (PEC) [email protected]
Puglia in the energy transition with offshore wind power, however, does not pass through Brindisi; you just have to settle for maintenance.
There are two projects involving Puglia: the Kailia Energia marine park project, Brindisi seafront (with a maximum capacity of 1.2 Gw and an expected annual production of 3.5.TWh); the other concerns Odra Energia for the second offshore wind farm in the south-east of southern Puglia.
For the 1,200 MW Kailia Energia Floating Offshore Wind Farm, it will be developed in a single phase, following completion of construction, which is expected to be commissioned in 2027. The project off Brindisi, developed by BlueFloat Energy and Falck Renewables, is expected generate 3,500,000 MWh of electricity and provide enough clean energy to power one million families. The project is expected to offset 2,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year.
MASE awaits any comments from the public by May 15, 2024. In the meantime, changes have been noted regarding the operation of the project regarding the Brindisi area.
The activities envisaged by the project in port areas are distributed as follows: – Construction activities: Port of Taranto with two possible layouts: 1- foundation assembly operations (in this case the foundation would be towed to the Port of Corigliano to be integrated to the wind turbine); or 2- separate assembly operations of the foundation and the wind turbine and subsequent integration of the wind turbine to the foundation. Port of Corigliano Calabro (Calabria): assembly operations of the wind turbine and integration of the same with the floating foundation. Maintenance activities: Port of Brindisi, Taranto and Corigliano Calabro.
(Photo courtesy MASE: Port of Taranto, Corigliano Calabro and Brindisi with respect to the Kailia park)
Brindisi will have to be satisfied with maintenance activities only; if you think wrongly, once again the proximity of the airport – instead of being an opportunity that other territories don’t have – mortifies an industrial settlement: the blade towers are very high!
I hope and hope that the local authorities are convincing ENAV and ENAC to desist from considering a ‘landing cone’ (in this case it would only be an approach phase), always present (but with an ever-increasing number of flights less than Bari) and which is transforming into a ‘solid banana market’ that reaches as far as Corfu.
The candidacy of the Port of Brindisi, as a base for the construction of the blades referred to in the MASE tender, had been vigorously followed by the Honorable D’Attis, to the point of proposing a legislative change.
In fact, for the Honorable Mauro D’Attis, regional commissioner of FI, the two AdSPs of Brindisi and Taranto could have participated in the MASE public notice together, thanks to the amendment presented by Forza Italia. “The joint participation – stated the Honorable D’Attis – will allow both airports to team up, avoiding useless competitions, to win and possibly benefit from the great opportunity”.
Just last year, territorial Confindustria, during a dedicated conference ‘Floating marine wind power, the opportunities for the local supply chain’, stated that on the employment front, each wind farm provides an estimated 1,500 direct jobs during the manufacturing, assembly and construction phases of the park, with peaks of up to 4,000 in periods of maximum need. While over 300 will be permanent places for 30 years for maintenance, after the entry into operation of the two parks. Specifically, the construction of marine wind farms requires, in addition to floating platforms and turbines, also mooring and anchoring systems, cabling and connection systems and electrical substations.
Abel Carruezzo
