Offshore wind-solar project in Italy under development
The project will install SolarDuck’s elevated platform technology that allows PV panels to be deployed in significant wave heights whilst maintaining a safe working environment for access and maintenance and minimising environmental impact (Source: SolarDuck)
An agreement to develop a grid-scale offshore hybrid wind-solar project off the Italian coast of Calabria has been signed by SolarDuck, an offshore floating solar photovoltaic (OFPV) developer, Arrow Capital, an Italian asset manager specialising in alternative investments, and New Developments s.r.l., a technology developer. The facility will generate a maximum output of 520 MW.
The partners will collaborate on the development of a 120-MWp OFPV farm integrated with a 28-turbine offshore wind plant near Corigliano-Rossano in the Gulf of Taranto, generating up to 420 MWp.
The project will involve the installation of SolarDuck’s unique elevated platform technology. This allows photovoltaic panels to be deployed at significant wave heights whilst also ensuring a safe working environment for access, maintenance, and the minimisation of environmental impact.
SolarDuck CEO, Koen Burgers, commented: “With the current momentum, we believe this is a unique opportunity for the offshore renewable energy industry to help shape a favourable regulatory framework and facilitate the scaling of OFPV. This is not just important for Italy, but also for other countries in the Mediterranean. Our collaboration with New Developments and Green Arrow Capital can also serve as a catalyst for OFPV in Italy.”
Daniele Camponeschi, founder and chief information officer of Green Arrow Capital, added: “As pioneers of renewables in Italy, we continually strive to lead the way, exemplified by our innovative offshore projects. These cutting-edge infrastructures not only generate green energy, contributing to sustainable energy transition and independence, but also demonstrate their complementarity to onshore installations, preserving precarious land resources.”
The project is part of the Green Arrow Infrastructure of the Future Fund (GAIF), which invests in European energy and digital infrastructure. The development is currently undergoing a permitting process, and the partners are hoping to achieve a commercial operation date in 2028.
