Italy Approves Fixed Price Tariff for First Offshore Wind Project

Italy’s renewable energy agency Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) has awarded a 30MW near shore wind project off Taranto with a 25-year fixed price tariff.

Belenergia S.A., the developer of the Beleolico 30MW offshore wind farm, secured the tariff at a maximum price of EUR 161.7/MWh, a 2% decrease compared to the starting price of EUR165/MWh set out in the June 2016 auction.

The wind farm is located in the outer harbor of the port of Taranto. It will comprise 10 MHI Vestas 3MW turbines installed some 100 metres off the coast.

The project was expected to secure the tariff as it was the only one of its kind suitable to compete for subsidies under a draft decree on renewable energy issued in 2015 which reserved exactly 30MW for offshore wind power.

Total construction costs are estimated at around EUR 63 million.

Belenergia plans to start constructing the wind farm in early 2017, with the full commissioning scheduled for 2018.