Saipem and Divento, a partnership that includes Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) through the flagship fund Copenhagen Infrastructure V, GreenIT (a joint venture between Plenitude, a subsidiary of Eni, and CDP Equity of the CDP Group), 7 Seas Wind Power, and NiceTechnology, have signed a collaboration agreement to integrate Saipem’s proprietary floating wind technology, STAR 1, into offshore wind projects in Italy.
The agreement focuses on the 7 Seas Med project in Sicily and the Ichnusa Wind Power project in Sardinia, supporting their participation in upcoming renewable energy auctions under the Fer2 Decree (“aste Fer2”). Saipem was selected following a rigorous technical and economic feasibility assessment.
The STAR 1 Technology
According to Saipem, STAR 1 is an advanced semi-submersible floating wind foundation technology, developed based on its extensive experience in designing, constructing, and installing subsea infrastructure.
The design features a centrally positioned turbine, optimizing the overall stability of the foundation even in harsh conditions. This configuration results in a lightweight structure with minimal draft, enhancing accessibility to most ports for streamlined wind turbine integration.
The STAR 1 technology is also highly scalable, accommodating turbines exceeding 15 MW in capacity. Equipped with a passive ballast system, the design ensures high reliability and ease of maintenance, reinforcing its viability as a long-term solution for floating wind energy projects (more on the video below – courtesy of saipem.com).
What is a floating wind farm?
A floating wind farm is an offshore wind power facility where wind turbines are mounted on floating structures rather than fixed to the seabed. This technology allows wind farms to be installed in deeper waters, where wind speeds are typically stronger and more consistent, increasing energy production potential. Floating wind farms are anchored to the seabed using mooring systems and can be deployed further offshore, reducing visual impact and minimizing conflicts with other marine activities.
The partnership and its two offshore Wind Projects
The partnership between Saipem and Divento leverages the expertise and strategic vision of both entities to support the full lifecycle of these floating wind projects. This collaboration highlights Italy’s engineering capabilities and the synergies between Italian and Northern European investors in advancing offshore renewable energy.
The floating wind sector presents a scalable opportunity for Italy, offering both challenges and significant potential for the domestic energy market and the national supply chain.
7 Seas Med Project
Located in the Strait of Sicily, over 35 km from the coast, the 7 Seas Med floating wind project has a capacity of 252 MW and is projected to generate approximately 800 GWh of renewable energy annually. It is the first project of its kind in Italy to receive an environmental compatibility decree from the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
Ichnusa Wind Power
Developed by the namesake company, Ichnusa Wind Power is positioned about 40 km off the southwest coast of Sardinia. With a planned capacity of 504 MW, it is expected to produce around 1.6 TWh of renewable energy per year.
It is understood that both projects are currently in the development phase, with front end engineering design in progress and pending the finalization of regulatory frameworks for innovative renewable energy auctions in Italy, including floating offshore wind.
Leadership comments
Paolo Bellucci, CEO of GreenIT, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “This agreement further strengthens the development of our 7 Seas Med and Ichnusa projects, which are at the forefront of floating offshore wind in Italy. Together with Saipem, Divento could act as a pioneer, facilitating the dissemination of local expertise and the construction of logistics infrastructures, fostering the growth of this new and important industrial sector in our Country.”
Kunal Patel, Partner at CIP, also highlighted the strategic relevance of floating offshore wind energy, saying, “We are pleased to announce this collaboration with Saipem for our floating offshore wind projects in Italy. Saipem is a global company with great experience in the implementation of subsea EPCI projects, a strategic requirement to accelerate our projects. Floating offshore wind can play an important role both for the Italian industry and for the production of safe and renewable energy. We therefore await clarifications on the CfD system for floating offshore wind, which is essential to allow this potential to materialize.”
