By the end of 2022, Terna will release the technical connection solution for all new ones offshore wind farms who have requested, by 31 October, connection to the national transmission grid, for one total power of about 95 GW. This is what emerged during today's workshop "Renewable Evolution - Offshore 2022" organized in Rome by the company led by Stefano Donnarumma, together with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment.
Terna: Connection requests at 300 GW
During the meeting, the progress and geographical distribution of requests to connect renewable energy plants in Italy were discussed, with a specific focus on offshore wind power.
In detail, in October the network connection requests of national transmission of new green plants have reached the total value of approx 300GW of power (of which 36% from solar sources and 74% from onshore and offshore wind sources). According to Terna, this is a rapidly growing trend. A figure equal to over 4 times the requirement of 70 GW of new renewable capacity necessary to achieve the climate targets defined by the new EU legislative package “Fit-for-55” by 2030.
Offshore wind boom
In particular – continues the company in a note – the so-called 'floating' offshore wind power, which involves the construction of floating plants on the aquatic surface, is finding ever greater development in the depths of the Italian seas, thanks to the technological progress gained on the international market. Not by chance, as at 31 October 202, the connection requests received by Terna relating to the offshore wind reached a capacity equal to approximately 95 GW, over 200% more rcompared to those received in December 2021.
From a geographical point of view, approximately 80% of requests are located in the regions of Southern Italy and in the main islands. In particular, there are approximately 24 GW in Sardinia, 19 GW in Sicily and 4 GW in Calabria.
“After a careful evaluation phase, in recent months Terna has provided for the release of the connection solution to approximately 22 GW of new offshore wind initiatives that have requested connection to our high and very high voltage grid, formulating a technical solution minimum general connection shared with all the proponents. By the end of the year, thanks to the close synergy with MASE and ARERA, we will also have released the remaining 73 GW, for a total of 95 GW" he declared Francis Del Pizzo, Terna's Head of Grid Development and Dispatching Strategies. “The development of renewable sources is more necessary than ever for the energy transition and it is essential to give a decisive acceleration if we want to achieve the objectives of decarbonisation, energy independence and improve the competitiveness of our country. However, we also need to act in a coordinated manner on the diffusion of accumulation systems and, above all, on investments in network infrastructures, which represent the enabling factor for a truly sustainable and cleaner future ”, she concluded.
