Pan-European renewable energy developer Galileo and Italy-based Hope Group have formed a joint venture to develop a 525 MW floating offshore wind project in Apulia, Italy.

The Lupiae Maris offshore wind farm, which is the name of the project and the joint venture, will be powered by 35 wind turbines of 15 MW each, installed on floating foundations in the southern Adriatic Sea between Brindisi and Lecce.

Due to the availability of floating offshore wind foundations, which allow access to a deeper seabed than the conventional bottom-fixed turbines, the wind farm will be located several kilometres from the coast, at a greater distance than that of conventional offshore wind projects, the partners said.

Additionally, the project’s particular position will also allow the exploitation of a stronger wind resource – one of the highest in the Adriatic Sea, according to the joint venture.

“We are convinced that the Lupiae Maris project represents a great opportunity to develop new industrial capabilities and an innovative supply chain, both in Apulia and in the rest of Italy”, said Francesco Dolzani, Chairman of Lupiae Maris and Business Development Director of Galileo in Italy.

Following the completion of environmental impact studies, including those on the seabed, birdlife, mammals, and landscape in the coming months, the project will be ready to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application.

Subsequently, the joint venture will launch a campaign in the first half of 2023 to make a precise assessment of the wind resource at sea.

Once completed, the offshore wind farm could potentially generate around 1.5 billion kWh of electricity annually, equal to the annual power consumption of more than 500,000 homes.

Last month, Hope Group (Gruppo Hope) submitted an application for a maritime concession for a site offshore Bari.

The company plans to build a 1.2 GW floating wind farm whose electricity would be used for hydrogen production on land.

When it comes to Galileo, the company has a pipeline exceeding 5 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage projects spread across seven European countries.

Italy currently has one offshore wind farm built in its waters, the 30 MW Taranto (or Beleolico) project, developed by Renexia. The first offshore wind farm built in Italy – and the first such project in the Mediterranean – was inaugurated in April.