Italy: Taranto to Get First Mediterranean Offshore Wind Farm

An Italian offshore wind story that started 5 years ago got its closure at the beginning of this month, when a project proposed to be built off the coast of Taranto got wind at its back after a years-long legal battle.

A decision by the Italian Council of State has now opened doors to a company called Beleolico s.r.l. to build a 30 MW project, comprising ten 3 MW wind turbines installed in the bay outside the Port of Taranto. According to Italian media, it is very likely now that the wind farm will be built, since a new draft decree on renewable energy has reserved exactly 30 MW for offshore wind power and Taranto project is the only one which is currently in a position to participate in the auction.

On the legal front, the Italian Council of State has rejected an appeal filed by the Municipality of Taranto against last year’s ruling by Regional Administrative Court of Puglia, which had dismissed an appeal that called for cancellation of the permission given by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to Beleolico to build the offshore wind farm.

Among various remarks made by the Municipality, the State Council has also deemed unfounded the one stating that the Region should be in charge of the authorization of this project, since the project falls under “nearshore” category, which includes power plants to be installed in the interior, at a distance of less than 3 km from the coast.

The Council, however, found it to be different according to the law, which recognizes only two types of wind farms: those on land, which are permitted by the Region and the ones at sea, no matter how far from the coast, for which the permitting process is the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Offshore WIND Staff; Image: Port of Taranto