Italian oil and gas contractor Saipem has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AGNES and QINT’X to develop a wind farm in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Ravenna.
With an overall installed capacity of approximately 450MW, the wind project will include the construction of around 56 turbines on fixed foundations on the seabed at two different sites.
The one site is located more than eight nautical miles from the shore, and the other more than 12 miles from the shore.
To deliver the project, Saipem said that it will deploy advanced technologies such as floating solar technology based on Moss Maritime’s proprietary technology.
Moss Maritime is part of Saipem’s XSIGHT division for developing new solutions to accelerate the decarbonisation process in the energy sector.
In this regard, XSIGHT has already started developing integrated solutions for using renewable energy and for producing “Green” hydrogen.
The project will be executed in a highly industrialised area and the local industry will be involved in supporting it.
XSIGHT Division chief operating officer Mauro Piasere said: “Saipem has long launched a process to strengthen its presence in the renewable energy sector.
“In particular, through the XSIGHT division, the company’s new role as developer of offshore wind farms is being defined and the Memorandum of Understanding signed with AGNES and QINT’X constitutes a new important opportunity in this direction.
“This agreement is consistent with the new business model adopted by the company, which is increasingly becoming a leader in the field of energy transition and introduced in 2019 as part of the agreement with Plambeck to develop wind farms with floating foundations in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
“Through the XSIGHT division, Saipem is planning to launch similar projects in Sicily and Sardinia as well, using floating foundations for wind turbines, thus supporting the Italian shipbuilding industry.”
AGNES develops renewable energy projects in the Adriatic Sea, especially offshore and nearshore wind farms, floating solar panels at sea, energy storage systems and hydrogen production from renewable sources.
QINT’X is an Italian company specialising in renewable energy, specifically solar, wind and hydroelectric energy and electric vehicles.