- SolarDuck, Green Arrow Capital and New Developments plan to build a 540 MW hybrid floating power plant
- It will have 120 MW OFPV capacity integrated within a 420 MW floating offshore wind project
- The project is proposed to come up off the coast of Corigliano-Rossano in Calabria in Italy
Dutch offshore PV (OFPV) technology company SolarDuck has announced an offshore floating hybrid wind and solar power project in Italy with 540 MW installed capacity. It will develop the project in collaboration with Italian independent asset manager Green Arrow Capital and local developer New Developments srl.
The project will comprise a 120 MW OFPV farm integrated with 28 wind turbines representing 420 MW floating offshore wind (FOW). Planned to come up in the gulf of Taranto off the coast of Corigliano-Rossano in Calabria, the OFPV component is expected to generate over 160 GWh of solar energy annually.
SolarDuck will equip the solar panels with its ‘unique’ elevated platform technology that it says can ensure these can withstand significant wave heights. The panels will still be easily accessible for operation and maintenance (O&M) works.
Pointing to the Italian government’s measures announced towards the simplification of requirements for offshore wind projects, the partners expect the country to follow up on other technologies as well. Recently, the Energy Security Ministry published a decree for 1.04 GW agrivoltaic capacity under the country’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (see Italy Publishes Decree For Agrivoltaic Deployment).
Specifically, FER Decree 2, currently awaiting clearance from the European Commission, is slated to offer incentives to promote renewable energy projects including OFPV. The state support under the decree will be available until December 31, 2028. These will be provided through competitive auctions to be conducted by GSE.
Calling the 540 MW a milestone project to accelerate OFPV, SolarDuck CEO Koen Burgers said, “With the current momentum, we believe this is a unique opportunity for the offshore renewable energy industry to help shape a favorable regulatory framework and facilitate the scaling of OFPV. This is not just important for Italy, but also for other countries in the Mediterranean. Our collaboration with New Developments and Green Arrow Capital can also serve as a catalyst for OFPV in Italy.”
Currently, the project is under permitting, but the project partners aim for it to be commissioned in 2028.
