First project in Puglia to be launched soon.

Falck Renewables announces an equal partnership with BlueFloat Energy for the development of floating offshore wind farms off the Italian coast and the start of the authorization process for the first project in Puglia, called Kailia Energia, in the waters off Brindisi.

This partnership builds on Falck Renewables’ strong local presence and development track record in Italy combined with BlueFloat Energy’s expertise in floating offshore wind and global footprint. The two companies see a strong potential for floating offshore wind in Italy, considering the characteristics of its coastline and the depth of its seas, for the production of renewable energy through the use of floating offshore wind technology, that will significantly contribute towards the national energy transition and regional autonomy, while fully respecting ecosystems.

Floating offshore wind is a game-changing technology for energy transition. By laying the foundations for the growth of renewable energy in Italy, it contributes to the achievement of the 2030 national decarbonization targets. This technology allows wind turbines to be positioned in the deep, open sea without the need of fixed foundation. This technology not only minimizes the impact on the marine and onshore environments during all the project phases but allows also to harness the wind resource where it is more abundant, thus increasing wind farms’ efficiency.

Project developers will file the necessary documentation with the Ministero per la Transizione Ecologica (Ministry for Ecological Transition) to start the authorization process for the Kailia Energia floating offshore wind farm, which will start with a preliminary consultation (scoping), a procedure voluntarily carried out by the project developers and aimed at better defining the contents of the environmental impact study for the subsequent procedure of the environment impact assessment. At the same time, the request for a maritime concession will be submitted to the Ministero delle Infrastrutture (Ministry of Infrastructure) and the Port Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea.

As seen with the traditional projects – solar and onshore wind – Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy commit to an early engagement with the territory and the local communities: the developers have embarked on a series of local stakeholder meetings to start a process of consultation and dialogue on the project proposals, that will continue throughout the entire process of project development.

The strategic importance of Puglia, in the national context and in the developers’ business plan, is confirmed by the preliminary analysis currently in progress for a second floating offshore wind farm the region. 

Kailia Energia‘s expected installed capacity will be around 1.2 GW, which would yield an expected annual production of 3.5 TWh, equivalent to the consumption of 1 million Italian households, avoiding the emission of 2 million Tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

The creation of clean and renewable energy also represents an opportunity for revitalization, collaboration and expansion of skills related to energy sustainability for the communities in Puglia involved in the projects, thanks to:

• thousands of stable jobs created in the medium to long term (up to 4,000 direct jobs during the manufacturing, assembly and construction phase of the Kailia Energia marine wind farm, during peak periods);
• a real business opportunity for local companies, primarily involved in the supply of goods and services, with enhancement of the local workforce and benefits in terms of professional opportunities and significant positive effects on the tertiary sector;
• a unique development opportunity for ports, that will have the possibility to diversify their industrial activities to support the deployment of floating offshore wind technology;
• new areas of research and development for the existing universities and clusters on cutting-edge technologies.

Toni Volpe, CEO of Falck Renewables, comments: «Today we are bringing the floating offshore wind technology to Italy, demonstrating our commitment to achieving sustainable goals through the implementation of innovative technologies. This project is the result of an important work carried out in recent months by the partnership, and that has also involved local stakeholders in a process of dialogue and shared development with communities and territories.«

Carlos Martin, CEO of BlueFloat Energy, says: “As a global offshore wind developer with a unique floating wind expertise we are keen to contribute towards the development of this sector in Italy. Our recent experience of developing a floating wind project in Spain with Parc Tramuntana provides us with valuable insights into the unique challenges of developing this type of projects in the Mediterranean region. We are now approaching the Italian market with a partner with complementary strengths and skills, to deliver a world-class project that will enable energy transition in the region.”

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Falck Renewables S.p.A., listed on the Italian stock exchange in the STAR segment (“FKR.MI”) and included in the FTSE Italia Mid Cap Index, develops, designs, builds and manages power production plants from renewable sources, with an installed capacity of 1,320 MW (1,283 MW according to the IFRS 11 reclassification) in the United Kingdom, Italy, United States, Spain, France, Norway and Sweden, using wind power, solar power, WtE and biomass technologies. The Group is a global player in the renewable energy technical advisory and asset management services business, through its wholly owned subsidiary Vector Renewables, providing asset management services to clients accounting for approximately 3,800 MW of installed capacity and with experience in more than 40 countries. Moreover, Falck Renewables provides highly specialized energy management and downstream services to both energy producers and consumers. 

Visit www.falckrenewables.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@falckrenewables).

BlueFloat Energy is developing offshore wind projects in various regions of the world, where it can implement its vision: to accelerate global deployment of offshore wind as a key enabler for the energy transition and economic growth. Founded by renewable energy professionals, BlueFloat Energy brings together unparalleled expertise in the design, development, financing, construction and execution of floating offshore wind projects.

BlueFloat Energy is supported by 547 Energy, the Quantum Energy Partners’ platform dedicated to clean energy investments. 547 Energy aims to partner with innovative companies who drive the growth of the green energy economy. Quantum Energy Partners is one of the world’s leading dedicated energy investment funds, with a portfolio of over $ 17 billion of assets under management since its inception in 1998. www.bluefloat.com

Contacts:

Falck Renewables

Giorgio Botta – Investor Relations – Tel. +39 02 2433 3338

Elena Roda – Media Relations – Tel. +39 02 2433 2297

BlueFloat Energy

Nailia Dindarova – Government and Regulatory Affairs Director – Tel. +34 (0) 610 53 31 41

SEC Newgate S.p.A

Daniele Pinosa, Fabio Leoni, Fabio Santilio – Tel. +39 02.6249991

CDR Communication

Vincenza Colucci – Tel. +39 335 6909547