Following the publication of the 2022 CEF Energy call for preparatory studies for cross-border renewable energy (CB RES) projects, one project has been selected requesting EUR 252.500 of EU funding. The CEF Energy support will co-fund the preparatory studies that will help assess the feasibility of a potential offshore wind farm with a capacity of approximately 300MW in the Northern Adriatic coastal zone near Croatia and Italy.
This would imply that around 2,200 km2 of sea area should be available for the proposed deployment between Pula (Croatia) and Ravenna (Italy).
The company that will carry out the studies is INA (Industrija nafte d.d.), an oil and gas company registered in Croatia. INA aims to implement exploratory tasks to identify and develop the main parameters of the planned CB RES project and to formalise the cross-border cooperation mechanism between Croatia and Italy. The preparatory study will consist of four different pillars: (I) technical assessment, (II) financial assessment, (III) commercial assessment and (IV) stakeholder engagement.
If the studies’ outcome is positive and subject to the project's final investment decision, the construction of the wind farm could start in 2026, with the launch of commercial operations in 2029.
