The expansion of the offshore wind sector in the Mediterranean will be as dependent on ‘stable, predictable regulation’ – in areas such as permits, auctions and grid access – as it will on technical maturity, a new study by Politecnico di Torino and WindEurope has suggested.
The joint study, Potentials and challenges of floating wind in the Mediterranean Sea: a joint industrial and academic perspective, which was published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, explored the policy, infrastructure and industrial measures needed to accelerate offshore wind development in the region, and foster ‘viable and profitable projects’.
As it found, improving the competitiveness of the sector will require coordinated action across regulation and grid infrastructure, as well as predictable timelines and measures to reduce risk.
‘Industrial and strategic challenge’
“The development of floating offshore wind power in the Mediterranean is both an industrial and a strategic challenge,” commented Giuliana Mattiazzo, professor at Politecnico di Torino’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) and co-author of the study. “This study confirms that technology alone is not enough. We also need the right conditions: planning, clear regulation, port infrastructure, expertise, and an industrial supply chain that can grow with the projects.
“Our collaboration with WindEurope, and our dialogue with industry, show how university research can bring together scientific analysis, industrial vision and strategic decision-making. For Politecnico di Torino, MOREnergy Lab and the Energy Center, offshore wind is a strategic area for building the knowledge and tools that will strengthen the Italian and European energy and industrial systems.”
As the study notes, further investment is needed in expanding the infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale offshore wind deployment – ports, manufacturing facilities, logistics networks and a skilled workforce will all need to grow alongside project pipelines.
Elsewhere, reliable connections between offshore wind farms and mainland electricity networks will need to be established as part of broader energy system development across the region.
Environmental and social factors are also ‘fundamental’, the study adds, with environmental safeguards, continuous monitoring and early consultation with local communities essential to long-term development.
‘Energy potential’
“Floating offshore wind can unlock much of the Mediterranean’s offshore renewable energy potential,” added Malgosia Bartosik, deputy CEO, WindEurope. “This analysis shows that technology is only part of the answer.
“Predictable regulation, coordinated grid planning, the right port infrastructure, and a ready supply chain are all essential to make projects credible, bankable and deliverable. WindEurope is glad to have worked with Politecnico di Torino on this study. It gives us solid evidence to guide the next phase of offshore wind development in the Mediterranean.” Read more here.
