Rospo Mare offshore wind project enters next phase in Italy

The Rospo Mare offshore wind project, proposed by Small Sea Energy Srl, has completed its preliminary scoping phase. The project involves the installation of 67 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW, aiming for a total power output of approximately 1 GW. The floating turbines are planned to be located between 21.5 km and 30 km from the coast, specifically off the coasts of Vasto and Termoli.

To support the energy production, the plan includes a 350 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Spoltore and approximately 72 km of undersea and underground cables. The infrastructure will impact 17 different municipalities, including Vasto, Ortona, Chieti, and Spoltore.

The project now moves to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security for further evaluation. A detailed Environmental Impact Study (SIA) must be conducted to address concerns raised by the national integrated energy and climate plan sub-commission. Key areas for investigation include the impact on local fishing and tourism, visual impact, electromagnetic emissions, and the protection of bird migration routes and Natura 2000 protected sites, such as Punta Aderci. Additionally, the location for assembling the large turbines remains under evaluation, with discussions involving the ports of Vasto and Ortona.