Offshore wind takes off:who is behind the boom in requests for authorizations in the Southern regions

The German company BayWa plans to build maxi-wind farms in Sicily and Sardinia.And she is not the only one interested in investing in the sector

If 2022 was the year of photovoltaics, this time it could be the turn ofwind energy.In particular, that one offshore.In the first months of 2023, on the desk of the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin several requests for authorization for new wind energy plants have already been completed.The real novelty, however, lies in the size of the projects.In Sicily, for example, off the coast of Mazara del Vallo (Trapani), a Milanese company named Ninfea Rinnovabili Srl asked theauthorization for a system of 53 wind turbines, distributed over an area of ​​263 square kilometers 52 kilometers from the coast, and a total power of 795 MW.To give an idea of ​​the size, just think that today the largest wind farm in Italy is located in Buddusò, in Sardinia, and has a power of 138 MW:less than a fifth of the new project being worked on off the coast of Sicily.

The rush to invest

If you look carefully, however, the one in Mazara del Vallo is not the only maxi-project that is waiting for the green light from the ministry to start work.Ninfea Rinnovabili, in fact, is nothing more than a holding company BayWa r.e., a German company headquartered in Munich with annual revenues of over $3 billion.The German giant, active in 30 countries, seems to want to invest with a certain conviction in the development of renewables in Italy.I already am seven the wind farms made by BayWa in our country:two in Lazio, three in Campania, one in Puglia and one in Basilicata.For a total power of approximately 225 MW.And this year it looks like BayWa is getting ready to shift into high gear.The power plant offshore for which it requested authorization off the coast of Mazara del Vallo has an estimated cost of 2.3 billion euros.

In addition to that project, the various BayWa holdings in Italy - six in total - have also requested authorization for other maxi-projects.An example?The one off the Scicli (Ragusa), which predicts the installation of 50 wind turbines for a total power of 750 MW.Ninfea Rinnovabili has also started the application process for a project offshore Portoscuso, in Sardinia.A wind farm that would include 34 blades offshore.The German renewables giant is not the only company interested in investing in wind power in Italy.In Puglia, the Italian subsidiary of Spanish group Acciona has requested authorization for two wind farms, which – figures in hand – would easily become the two largest in Italy.The first, named «Puglia A», includes 67 wind turbines of 15 MW each, for a total power of 1005 MW.The second, «Puglia B», with a total of 930 MW.Also in Puglia, the German DGM Global has proposed to build another maxi wind farm, of 675 MW, off the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca.While in Sardinia, in addition to the project Ninfea Rinnovabili is working on, there are at least three other companies waiting to receive authorizations from the ministry for as many wind farms.

The government's objectives and local resistance

Adding all these projects, the overall power of the wind farms that have asked for the green light from the Ministry of the Environment in recent months would be at least 5.5 gigawatts.A figure that is anything but negligible, which could perhaps push the government to upwardly adjust the objectives for the future.The National energy and climate plan (Pniec), in fact, foresees only 900 MW of offshore wind by 2030.A goal which, if the authorizations were to arrive, would be easily achieved by just one of the many projects filed in recent months.

On the topic of wind energy offshore, However, there continues to be some resistance, especially local.In Sardinia, for example, the Legal intervention group – that yes presents as an "environmental association" - has filed four opposition documents to as many requests for authorization for wind farms offshore.«Being in favor of energy produced from renewable sources does not mean having dull blinders», explains the association on its website.In many cases, local resistance to these projects is mainly due to some typical characteristics of offshore wind farms, including noise pollution, the large space they require and, above all, the visual impact.A problem they also tried to remedy last December Legambiente, Wwf And You do, who signed a joint document in which they commit to working together to combine energy transition and landscape protection.

Cover photo:UNSPLASH / NICHOLAS DOHERTY