The construction of the first offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean is progressing off the coast of Taranto. The first turbine was installed on 6 February, now it is the fourth out of ten overall and forecasts indicate the completion of the infrastructure in the coming weeks and then immediately connect it to the grid. The 80 million investment (Beleolico) is headed by the Renexia company of the Toto group.
It will produce green energy for 60,000 Mwh, equal to the annual needs of 60,000 people. Furthermore, over the 25-year life span, the plant will allow a saving of approximately 730 thousand tons of Co2. But since that last February 6, due to the worsening of the international scenario, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the surge in gas prices, Puglia has been on the move. New possibilities of energy supply are now being considered more carefully and not blocked, a priori, by an avalanche of no as perhaps could have happened some time ago.
The warning of the pipeline affair
Surely the story of the Tap gas pipeline, which arriving from Greece and Albania arrives along the Salento coast after crossing the Adriatic, has taught more than something. Harshly opposed for years in all ways, including violent ones, the pipeline is not only a reality (more than 8 billion cubic meters of gas flowed into Italy in 2021), not only has it not devastated the environment – as the opponents shouted, both “No Tap” that various public administrators -, but it has proved to be extremely valuable in terms of diversification of supply sources. So much so that the market test procedure, to bring the transported gas capacity from 10 to 20 billion, should close next July, well in advance of the initial times.
Emiliano: comparison with Odra Energia
But something is also moving for other projects such as the marine wind farm proposed by Odra Energia, a joint venture between Falck Renewables and BlueFLoat Energy, off the Adriatic coast of Salento. A floating park, without fixed foundations as opposed to Beleolico in Taranto. The opposition to the Odra Energia park still remains strong, despite the fact that the company listened to the local communities concerned and modified the initial project by extending the distance of the towers from the coast to minimize their visual impact. However, meeting the Salento mayors, the president of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, opened the negotiations with the company.
“Although the Region has no decision-making and administrative role – said the Apulian governor -, I will take care of meeting the company that proposes the wind farm to check if it is possible to mitigate the environmental impact or even avoid carrying out the park in that mirror of water ».