BayWa r.e. accelerates offshore activities in Italy

BayWa r.e. has a total of 14 floating offshore wind power plants under development in Italy. Integrated into a global offshore wind team, a dedicated offshore project development team has been set up in Rome. It is developing offshore wind power plants in several Italian regions - two in Lazio, two in Puglia, four in Sardinia, and six in Sicily.

"Our significant project pipeline reflects our determination to support a green and sustainable future in Italy. Over the next years, BayWa r.e. will continue to invest resources and expertise to implement innovative solutions such as offshore wind, to not only contribute to a concrete path towards decarbonisation for Italy, but also create economic opportunities and promote sustainable development at a regional level," explains Giulia Lo Bianco, Head of Offshore Wind BayWa r.e. Italy.

BayWa r.e. estimates that three to five of these projects in Italy will be commissioned by 2030, corresponding to a total capacity of around 2 GW. This forecast considers the development processes, regulatory assessments and technical considerations necessary to ensure the quality and safety of the projects. An investment of approximately EUR 6 billion will be required for the development and construction of the plants. 

Building on its global network of development offices under the umbrella of a new BayWa r.e. offshore subsidiary, the company is pursuing a number of offshore opportunities in additional markets, with the ambition to expand its portfolio over the next years. A global team of around 35 people supports local teams at every stage of project development. 

Felipe Cornago, Managing Director Offshore Wind at BayWa r.e. comments: “Offshore wind provides remarkable efficiency and consistency and can be a game changer to achieve key climate goals in Europe. Our growing offshore pipeline demonstrates our dedication to advance the deployment of offshore wind power – an essential pillar of the energy transition. BayWa r.e. is fully committed to playing a leading role in driving forward this transition, and with our new global structure and local expertise, we are all set to elevate our offshore activities to the next level." 

Besides Italy, BayWa r.e. is active in the offshore sector in the UK, France, Germany, Portugal and Australia. Through Crown Estate Scotland's ScotWind leasing agreement, the company has, as part of a consortium, secured the rights to develop the 960 MW Buchan Offshore Wind Farm off the north-east coast of Scotland. In addition, BayWa r.e. has pre-qualified for the two calls for tenders AO5 and AO6 in France, to develop 250 MW South of Brittany and up to 500 MW in the Mediterranean Sea. The results of AO5 are expected for the first quarter of 2024. 

(c) unsplash/nicholas doherty