Wind energy in Italy is experiencing sudden growth with upcoming wind farm projects across the country. The limited availability of sites suitable for fixed-bottom wind turbines will drive a focus on floating offshore wind in the coming years. The cities located in Southern Italy, such as Apulia, Sicily, and Campania, foster this growth by implementing more advanced floating wind technologies.

According to Blackridge Research’s Italy wind energy market report, the total installed wind power capacity of Italy was approximately 12.34 GW in 2023. Italy has the potential to increase its share of wind power and meet the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) target of 19 GW by 2030.

The upcoming wind power plants in Italy, such as Med Wind wind farm, Abruzzo 1 floating wind farm, and Sardinia North West wind farm, will contribute significantly to the renewable energy targets set by the country. In this blog, we’ll explore the top upcoming wind farm projects in Italy. We dive into the details, including the capacity of the wind farm, type of foundation, construction stage, timeline, and ownership details.

Top 7 Upcoming Wind Farms in Italy (Based on Capacity)

Med Wind Offshore Wind Farm

The Med Wind Floating Offshore Wind Park is one of the largest upcoming floating offshore wind projects in Italy, which will be developed by Renexia. The wind farm has a capacity of 2.8 GW and delivers clean energy to 3.4 million households in Italy. The wind project in the Strait of Sicily will meet energy demands about 3% of Italy’s national energy demand and offset 2.7 million tons of CO? emissions annually.

The offshore wind farm will feature 148 floating wind turbines, each with an 18.8 MW capacity. Med Wind operates with turbines anchored around 60 to 80 kilometers from the Italian coastline and with water depth between 300 and 600 meters. The project will include offshore substations and a 700-kilometer export cable connecting to mainland Italy to transfer renewable electricity. 

The Italian wind farm will have turbine layout and foundation design, based on Technip Energies’ INO15 floating technology. This will help the wind farm to reduce seabed disturbance and preserve the local marine ecosystem. 

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In October 2024, Renexia signed a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract with China’s Mingyang Smart Energy. The contract followed the joint signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Italian Ministry of Enterprises to develop a factory in Italy for the new 18 MW MySE turbines. Renexia has also signed key contracts with Technip Energies and Aker Solutions for FEED design.

The Med Wind project submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application in 2024, and construction, along with the final investment decision (FID), is expected to start in 2025. Site construction work is anticipated to be completed by 2026, and the assembly of foundations and turbines is scheduled to begin in 2027. The project aims to achieve full commissioning by 2032.

Abruzzo 1 Floating Wind Farm

The Abruzzo I Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a 1,760 MW offshore wind project planned in the Adriatic Sea. The wind farm is located approximately 20 nautical miles (32 km) off the coast of Abruzzo, Italy. The wind farm is developed by AGNES, Qintx Holding, and Saipem, each holding a 33.33% ownership stake.

The project is currently in the announced stage, and construction is expected to begin in 2025. The wind farm will feature 160 floating wind turbines, each with an 11 MW capacity.

The floating wind turbines have a height of 170 meters with a rotor diameter of 260 meters designed to capture strong offshore winds. The wind farm is expected to complete construction in 2029.

Sardinia South 1 Wind Farm

The Sardinia South 1 Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 1.55 GW wind energy project located off the southern coast of Sardinia, Italy. It is developed through a 50/50 joint venture between Hexicon and Avapa Energy, known as AvenHexicon. The floating offshore wind farm spans over 364 km², harvesting the favorable wind conditions near Capo Teulada and Isola del Toro.

The wind project will feature 64 floating wind turbines mounted on advanced floating foundations, along with a floating electrical substation. The turbines will be connected to export cables that make landfall in the municipality of Selargius. This will ensure efficient energy transmission and clean electricity to households and industries across Sardinia.

Currently in the early planning stage, the project achieved a major milestone in 2023 with the initiation of its environmental impact assessment (EIA). The next step is a detailed geophysical survey planned for 2024. The construction of Sardinia South 1 is set to begin in 2025 and is expected to enter commercial operation by 2029. The project is part of a broader floating offshore initiative by AvenHexicon, which includes Sardinia South 2. 

Messapia Wind Farm

The Messapia Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a 1.3 GW floating offshore wind project proposed for development in Italy. The wind farm will be located in the Ionian Sea, approximately 28 km off the coast of Apulia between Tricase and the marine area southeast of Capo Santa Maria di Leuca. The wind farm is developed by Eni Plenitude and Simply Blue Group, each holding a 50% stake.

The wind farm will have 73 floating offshore wind turbines, each with a rated unit capacity of 18 MW. The project consists of two offshore substations and is expected to generate approximately 3.8 TWh of clean electricity per year. The electricity generated will be connected to an onshore substation in the municipality of Galatina.

Currently, in the early planning stage, the Messapia project is on track for construction to begin in 2025. The project is part of a 2.4 GW pipeline of floating wind farms that Plenitude and Simply Blue Group are jointly developing in Italy, including the Krimisa project (1.1 GW) off the coast of Calabria. The Messapia wind farm is expected to start commercial operations by 2029.

Odra Energia Wind Farm

The Odra Energia Floating Offshore Wind Farm is an upcoming clean energy project in Italy headed by Renantis (formerly Falck Renewables) and BlueFloat Energy. The wind farm has a capacity of 1.3 GW and is located in the Ionian Sea, 18 to 24 kilometers off the southeastern coast of the Puglia Region, Italy. 

Once operational, the wind project is expected to generate 4 TWh of electricity production annually and supply power to approximately 1.1 million Italian households. The wind farm will utilize advanced floating wind technology and be supported by floating foundations designed for stability and resistance. Each turbine will have a planned capacity of 15 MW and a height of up to 280 meters. 

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An initial application for ministerial authorization was filed in December 2021. Following public and stakeholder consultations, adjustments were made in January 2024. This includes increasing the minimum distance of turbines from the coastline to 18 kilometers and optimizing turbine placement. Construction of the Odra Energia floating wind farm is planned to start in 2026, with commercial operations expected by 2030.

Highlighting the environmental benefits, the wind farm will prevent 2.5 million tons of CO? emissions each year. Beyond that Odra Energia represents a significant economic investment, creating 1,500 direct jobs during construction (peaking at 4,000) and over 150 permanent positions for operations and maintenance. The project ensures the involvement of local companies and workforce contributing to regional skill development and sustainable energy expertise.

Sardinia North West Wind Farm

The Sardinia Northwest Floating Offshore Wind Farm is developed by AvenHexicon (a joint venture between Hexicon AB and Avapa Energy). Hexicon and Avapa Energy each hold a 50% stake in the wind farm development. The 1.3 GW renewable energy project is located off the northwest coast of Sardinia, Italy. The wind farm is positioned at least 24 kilometers from the coast in deep waters with floating wind technology.

Sardinia North West Wind Farm secured the project site in October 2022 and concluded the scoping phase of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in January 2024. The next steps involve a geophysical survey planned for the end of 2024. The project is one of six offshore wind developments by AvenHexicon in Italy, with a combined capacity of 7,100 MW. All of the wind farms have received interconnection approval from Terna SPA, Italy's transmission system operator.

Kailia Energia Wind Farm

The Kailia Energia Floating Offshore Wind Farm is one of the largest upcoming wind farms in Italy. It is located off the coast of Brindisi in the Adriatic Sea and developed by Kailia Energia Srl, a partnership between Renantis (formerly Falck Renewables) and BlueFloat Energy. The wind project has an installed capacity of 1,170 MW and is expected to generate 3.4 TWh of electricity annually.

Upon completion, the wind farm will power over 1 million households and offset 2 million tons of CO2 emissions each year. The wind farm features up to 78 floating wind turbines mounted on advanced floating platforms. The Kailia Energia’s construction cost is estimated at EUR 4 billion. The construction of the wind farm is set to begin in 2026, with commercial operations starting in 2030. 

The project will significantly boost the local economy, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs during its construction phase and over 150 permanent positions during operation. The EIA process initiated in March 2024 focuses on compliance with environmental standards and mitigation of potential impacts. Also, Kailia Energia supports Italy’s energy transition by offsetting 2 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Wind Power in Italy

Wind power is becoming an inevitable component of Italy's energy portfolio, contributing 10% of the total installed power generation capacity in 2023. Onshore wind power has been the primary contributor, supported by favorable conditions in southern regions and islands like Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia. The steady growth of wind energy reflects Italy's commitment to expanding renewable energy and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

According to Blackridge’s Italy wind market report, from 2010 to 2023, onshore wind power capacity grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. This trend is expected to persist, with similar growth projected from 2023 to 2035. New installations and ongoing repowering efforts are set to drive this increase. These efforts align with Italy's National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) to enhance the country's renewable energy share.

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Looking ahead, wind power is forecast to account for 15% of Italy’s total installed generation capacity by 2035. This growth will solidify its role in the energy transition, contributing to national energy security and sustainability goals. Continued investment in wind energy will also support job creation and economic development, particularly in regions with abundant wind resources.

Conclusion

Floating offshore wind farms mark a transformative among Italy’s renewable energy sources. Projects like the Med Wind, Abruzzo 1, and Kailia Energia wind farms are examples of Italy's commitment to offshore wind power. By utilizing the latest technologies and strategic partnerships, these wind farms supply clean energy to millions of households in Italy and increase clean energy consumption. Also, these upcoming Italian wind farms will reduce carbon emissions and make the country a leader in wind energy globally.

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