7SeasMed Floating Offshore Wind Project Receives Environmental Impact Assessment Approval, the First for a Floating Offshore Wind Project in Italy

March 22, 2024 – Sicily, Italy and Copenhagen, Denmark:

Yesterday, the 250MW 7SeasMed Floating Offshore Wind Project was granted approval of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the Italian Ministry for Environment and Energy Security. This is the first EIA approval for a floating offshore wind project in Italy and marks an important milestone to jumpstart the offshore wind industry and support Italy’s renewable energy and climate goals. Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP), a global leader in offshore wind development and construction, serves as lead developer for the project, which is owned by a consortium including GreenIT, the Italian renewable energy joint venture between Plenitude (Eni) and CDP Equity (CDP Group), and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a global leader in greenfield renewable energy investments. 

7SeasMed is a 250MW floating offshore wind project that will be located approximately 35 kilometers off the coast of Marsala, Sicily. Approval of the EIA paves the way for construction and operation of the offshore wind farm, which will use cutting edge-technologies and environmentally-conscious practices. 7SeasMed also positions Sicily as an important hub for renewable energy generation in Italy and bolsters the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality.  

“We are delighted to receive EIA approval for the 7SeasMed floating offshore wind project off the coast of Sicily,” said Michele Schiavone, COP Italy CEO and Project CEO for 7SeasMed. “This represents a significant achievement in our mission to accelerate the energy transition and combat climate change. The project underscores our commitment to pioneering innovative solutions that balance energy needs with environmental stewardship.” 

“The EIA Decree is the result of our robust and collaborative approach to all environmental disciplines, including stakeholder engagement and dialogue the 7SeasMed team has conducted with public bodies at both the national and local levels” said Alan Hannah, COP Partner and Europe Market Development Lead. “Floating offshore wind is moving from demonstration to first industrialisation and we are proud to have 7SeasMed play a key role in this momentum.”

Floating offshore wind represents a transformative approach to renewable energy production, harnessing the vast potential of offshore wind resources in deeper waters where traditional fixed-bottom installations are unable to be deployed. By utilizing innovative floating platforms anchored to the seabed, 7SeasMed aims to unlock new opportunities for sustainable energy generation while minimizing environmental impact. 

7SeasMed will deliver numerous benefits to Italian communities and the economy, including: 

• Clean Energy Generation: With a capacity of 250MW, 7SeasMed will contribute to Sicily’s renewable energy capacity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions. 
• Job Creation and Economic Growth: The project will create job opportunities during the construction and operation phases, stimulating economic growth in the region and supporting local communities. 
• Technological Innovation: By deploying state-of-the-art floating platform technology, the project showcases advancements in offshore wind technology, driving innovation and expertise in the renewable energy sector. 
• Provide local, clean and affordable energy to more than 70,000 homes in Sicily or around 5% of Sicily’s total electricity consumption. 

 7SeasMed is part of a larger 3GW offshore wind portfolio in Italy owned by the GreenIT and CIP partnership, and of which COP serves as lead development partner. This is one of the largest floating portfolios in Italy and in addition to 7SeasMed it includes the Ichnusa (504MW, Sardinia) Tyrrhenian (500MW, Latium), Nurax (500MW, Sardinia), and Poseidon (1000MW, Sardinia) projects.  

 

 

About Copenhagen Offshore Partners 

Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) is a world leader in offshore wind project origination, development, and construction. COP is accelerating the energy transition through development of a 50+ GW project portfolio. An industry pioneer, the group is leading project development in new markets, including four projects currently under construction – Changfang Xidao and Zhong Neng in Taiwan, Vineyard Wind 1 in the United States and Jeonnam 1 in Korea. COP also specializes in system integration capabilities, including power-to-x. COP’s expert team are advancing projects across 17 offices in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. COP is a proudly independent company owned by its management. Learn more at www.cop.dk 

 

About GreenIT
GreenIT is a joint venture, owned 51% by Plenitude (Eni) and 49% by CDP Equity, for the development, construction, and management of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources in Italy. The joint venture, created in 2021, is part of the strategy aimed to support the country’s energy transition, increasing the generation of renewable energy, in line with the objectives set by the 2030 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. For more information, visit www.green-it.online/   

 

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world’s largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focuses on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X. 

CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 28 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 160 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com 

 

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For media inquiries, reach out to Jamie Shellenberger-Bessmann jsb@cop.dk