Tibula Energia is the name of the latest floating offshore wind farm project off the northeastern coast of Sardinia. The project has been proposed by
Falck Renewables and
BlueFloat Energy as part of the partnership between the two companies; and to ensure early engagement with the region the developers have set up a series of meetings with the local stakeholders before starting the Ministerial authorisation process that entails presenting the project proposal in detail and gathering feedback to be taken into account in the project design.
Details of the Tibula Energia project include: 62 floating wind turbines, with a distance from the coast ranging from 25 to 40km, making them barely visible from the coast; a total installed capacity of 975MW; an expected annual production of more than 3.4TWhr, equivalent to the consumption of over 900,000 households; and more than 1.6 million tonnes of CO
2 avoided each year.
Meetings with the local stakeholders will focus on discussing economic and social benefits of the project, including: generating thousands of stable jobs in the medium to long term; up to 3,200 full-time jobs during the manufacturing, assembly and installation stages; and more than 180 jobs for maintenance once the wind farm is operational.
Furthermore, the meetings will provide: insights into the latest technological developments, which represent professional opportunities for local talent; innovation, research and development through collaborative schemes with Sardinia’s universities, research centres and regional technology hubs; details of the development of the local supply chain based on the partners’ inclusive and sustainable business model, which encourages proximity of supply, giving priority to local businesses; and details of the development of the island’s main industrial ports for the assembly, operation and maintenance of the wind farm.
Exploratory research into local sea and wind conditions, environmental impacts and industrial infrastructures has been underway over the past 12 months. The request for a maritime concession was submitted on in May and the authorisation process with the Ministry of Ecological Transition will begin in the next few weeks.