Environmental impact assessment approved for 1.1-GW Italian floating windfarm

The Barium Bay floating offshore wind project being developed by Galileo and Hope Group has secured an environmental impact assessment (EIA) from Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.

The project is located in the Adriatic Sea, off the coast between Bari and Barletta in Italy’s southern Apulia region. It received formal approval through an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decree, granted by both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture. This approval allows the Barium Bay project to compete in the upcoming FER 2 renewable energy auction, which offers Contracts for Difference (CfDs) covering up to 3.8 GW of offshore wind capacity.

Situated over 45 km off the coast in the Adriatic Sea, the floating offshore wind farm lies between the cities of Bari and Barletta in Italy’s southern Apulia region. The project will include two fixed-bottom offshore substations, made possible by the area’s suitable seabed conditions, according to the joint venture partners. With a planned capacity of 1,110 MW, Barium Bay is projected to produce more than 3 billion kilowatt-hours annually—enough to supply electricity to over one million households in Italy.