Saipem and Divento, a consortium comprising Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, GreenIT, 7 Seas Wind Power, and NiceTechnology, have announced a collaboration agreement to deploy Saipem’s proprietary STAR 1 floating wind technology for key projects in Italy, including the 7 Seas Med and Ichnusa developments.
This strategic partnership positions Divento to participate in Italy’s inaugural auctions under the Fer2 Decree for floating wind projects, leveraging Saipem’s STAR 1 technology, a semi-submersible foundation recognized for its lightweight, modular design, facilitating efficient construction, assembly, and maintenance. Saipem was selected following a rigorous technical and economic feasibility assessment.
“This agreement further strengthens the development of our 7 Seas Med and Ichnusa projects, which are at the forefront of floating offshore wind in Italy,” stated Paolo Bellucci, CEO of GreenIT. “Together with Saipem, Divento could act as a pioneer, facilitating the dissemination of local expertise and the construction of logistics infrastructures, fostering the growth of this new and important industrial sector in our country.”
The 252MW 7 Seas Med project, situated 35km off the Sicilian coast, is projected to generate 800 GWh annually and holds the distinction of being the first Italian floating wind project to secure environmental compatibility approval. The 504MW Ichnusa Wind Power project, located 40km off the Sardinian coast, is anticipated to produce 1.6 TWh annually. Both projects are in advanced development, awaiting the establishment of a regulatory framework for Italy’s first floating wind auctions.
“We are pleased to announce this collaboration with Saipem for our floating offshore wind projects in Italy,” said Kunal Patel, Partner at CIP. “Saipem is a global company with great experience in the implementation of subsea engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning projects – a strategic requirement to accelerate our projects. We therefore await clarifications on the CfD (contract for difference) system for floating offshore wind, which is essential to allow this potential to materialise.”
This partnership underscores a significant step toward advancing Italy’s renewable energy goals, coinciding with the Italian government’s recent announcement of plans to reintroduce nuclear power, signaling a comprehensive approach to diversifying the nation’s energy mix.
