The procedure has been started Environmental Impact assessment for “Odra”, the floating offshore wind farm that the partnership between Renantis and BlueFloat Energy intends to build off the southern coast of the province of Lecce. After over a year of studies and research, it was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Culture, Environmental Impact Study, i.e. the set of documents that describe in detail the project hypothesis developed and which will be made available in the coming weeks by the aforementioned Ministries for consultation by all interested parties.
The project: production of approximately 4 billion kWh/year, 1.500 jobs
The project involves the placement of 90 floating wind turbines for an expected maximum installed capacity of over 1300 megawatts and an expected production of approximately 4 billion kWh/year, equivalent to the consumption of over 1 million families Italians, avoiding the release into the atmosphere of more than 2 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. The overall investment for the construction and development of “Odra” is estimated at over 4 billion euros.
“The work - in addition to contributing to the security of national energy supply and the achievement of decarbonisation objectives - will also have positive effects on local economies both in the construction and operational phases, with great development opportunities in other related sectors ”, we read in a note. On the employment front 1.500 direct jobs are estimated averages for the production, assembly and construction phases of the park, with peaks up to 4.000 during the periods of maximum activity and more than 150 permanent jobs, estimated for the entire operation of the wind farm, i.e. thirty years. “The months that preceded the finalization of the Environmental Impact Study – he commented Ksenia Balanda, general director of Renantis-BlueFloat Energy partnership for Italy – allowed us to optimize the project through a series of dedicated environmental and engineering campaigns, both on land and offshore. The result is an optimal project from a technical point of view, environmentally sustainable and with a strong contribution to the growth of the local economy. To achieve the goal of first energy production by the end of the decade, we will continue to perfect all aspects related to the construction and operation of our wind farm, ensuring the best possible solutions now. We will maintain the focus on the territories, giving priority to the involvement of local resources and skills, putting continuous dialogue with institutions and communities at the centre. It is thanks to these interactions that we have been able to optimize the project, and it is with this collaborative approach that we intend to proceed aiming for the full integration of the wind farm in the Lower Salento area that hosts us".
