OffshoreWind4Kids lands in Italy thanks to Renantis and BlueFloat Energy

Quartu Sant’Elena – Cagliari, 9 June 2023 – Sardinia is the setting for the first Italian workshop of OffshoreWind4Kids (OW4K), the initiative aimed at children to learn about offshore wind energy and understand its importance for a sustainable future.

Italy, in fact, with its more than 8,000 kilometres of coastline area is the perfect candidate to meet the growing demand for renewable energy with offshore wind technology. Since 2021 Renantis (formerly Falck Renewables) and BlueFloat Energy have been working in this direction in an equal partnership to develop floating offshore wind farms off the Italian coast.

Calabria, Apulia and Sardinia, the regions in which the partnership is developing projects, are ideal locations for the deployment of this technology due to the strong wind resource and the characteristics of the seabed: the virtuous ecosystem that will be generated through these projects with the development of new activities and specific infrastructure investments will create direct and indirect long-term benefits for the entire regional systems.

The OffshoreWind4Kids workshop is the brainchild of the Belgian non-profit organisation of the same name, already present in various parts of the world and in Europe (Belgium, Portugal, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Denmark), with the aim of raising awareness of the potential of engineering, new technologies and renewable energies, with a special focus on the innovation represented by offshore wind energy, through activities that stimulate the curiosity of children. Engagement of future generations and the creation of a meaningful dialogue with local communities are core values of the partnership, which also committed to embracing state-of-the-art practices to minimise the environmental impact of its activities.

The idea of hosting the first Italian edition of OffshoreWind4Kids is based on these values.

«The desire to bring the OffshoreWind4Kids project to Italy stems from Renantis’ and BlueFloat Energy’s desire to stimulate the youngest children to learn about the floating offshore wind technology that will be the protagonist of our energy future,» explains Ksenia Balanda, General Manager of the Renantis and BlueFloat Energy partnership in Italy. “The participatory and enthusiastic response from children is an important result for us, a tangible proof of how young people are curious and predisposed to understand new things. The intention is to take this initiative to all the regions where we are developing our projects.”

Sixty pupils of the Istituto Comprensivo ‘Maria Lai’ in Quartu Sant’Elena, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Cagliari, Sardinia, took part in activities organised under the patronage of the municipal administration led by Mayor Graziano Milia, on the Poetto beach. The children were thus able to observe first-hand the operation of an offshore wind turbine with integrated measuring instruments, building a real, working prototype with their own hands. In a game environment, the organisers explained in simple terms how clean energy is produced thanks to the power of the wind and cutting-edge technology, through engaging and entertaining simulations.

Under the watchful eye of the children, the three project proposals in Sardinia (Nora Energia 1, Nora Energia 2 and Tibula Energia), located on the southern and north-eastern coasts of the island, were also presented.

Nora Energia 1 is a floating offshore wind project planned off the Sardinian Channel, located southwest of the Gulf of Cagliari, and envisages a total installed capacity of 795 MW, an expected annual production of 2.6 TWh (Terawatt-hours), equivalent to the consumption of more than 700,000 households, around 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year avoided in the atmosphere.

Nora Energia 2 envisages a total installed capacity of 600 MW, an expected annual production of 1.9 TWh (Terawatt-hours), equivalent to the consumption of more than 500,000 households, that can avoid the emission of more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.

Tibula Energia is a floating offshore wind project off the north-east coast of Sardinia, in the stretch of sea roughly between the municipality of Olbia and the municipality of Siniscola. The planned installed capacity of the wind farm is about 975 MW, with an estimated annual production of about 3.4 TWh (Terawatt-hours), equivalent to the consumption of 900,000 households that can avoid 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere per year.

In addition to Sardinia, Renantis and BlueFloat Energy are developing a floating offshore wind project in Calabria and two projects in Puglia. The total investment of the 6 Italian projects presented by the partnership is EUR 16 billion, for a total capacity of 5.5 GW and an expected production of 18 TWh/year, equal to 5% of the national gross inland consumption by 2030.

Renantis S.p.A. works to create a better future for everyone, every day, with dedication. The Group develops, designs, builds and operates onshore wind farms, solar power plants, energy storage systems and floating marine wind projects in several countries around the world. Headquartered in Italy, 1,420 MW installed in plants in the UK, Italy, the USA, Spain, France, Norway and Sweden, Renantis has been providing renewable energy solutions since 2002. As a forerunner in the renewable energy sector, the Group has solid experience in providing specialised services and expertise along the entire value chain. From production to consumption, Renantis provides customers with technical consulting, plant and energy management services, with operations in more than 40 countries.

BlueFloat Energy develops offshore wind projects in various regions of the world, implementing its corporate vision: to accelerate the global deployment of offshore wind as a key factor for energy transition and economic growth. Founded by renewable energy professionals, BlueFloat Energy brings together unrivalled experience in the design, development, financing, construction and execution of floating offshore wind projects. BlueFloat Energy is backed by 547 Energy, the renewable energy investment platform of Quantum Energy Partners.

OffshoreWind4Kids is a global educational programme for schools initiated by the Belgium-based non-profit organisation of the same name, created by two Belgian brothers Thomas and William Beuckelaers. It is a programme that aims to inspire girls and boys about engineering, technology and renewable energy, stimulating knowledge of offshore wind innovation and spreading awareness of it to the general public. Started in 2021, the programme is now active in 18 countries around the world thanks to the great interest it has achieved. In 2023, the aim is to reach 5,000 to 10,000 children.

For further information:
Elena Pescucci M: +39 333 6155660 | E: elena.pescucci@secnewgate.it
Elena Roda M: +39 02 2433 2297 | E: elena.roda@renantis.com
Nailia Dindarova M: +34 610533141 | E: ndindarova@bluefloat.com