Adriatic peninsula Istria intends to use offshore wind to achieve energy independence

Istria, the biggest peninsula in the Adriatic, will draft a study on the potential for the construction of offshore wind farms, with the aim to achieve energy independence.

An analysis of the possibilities for the construction of offshore wind power plants will be prepared within the COOPwind initiative – Bilateral cooperation for offshore wind energy production. It will be implemented by the Istrian Regional Energy Agency (IRENA) in partnership with Stiftelsen Seed Forum Norway.

It is one of 12 initiatives that obtained an overall EUR 1.1 million from the Fund for Bilateral Relations, based on the public call Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation with Norway in Green Transition. The beneficiaries were selected by the Joint Committee for Bilateral Funds, which consists of representatives of the donor countries – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia.

Previous analyses showed only offshore wind farms could provide sufficient domestic energy

The COOPwind project aims to secure the preconditions for the development of wind farms offshore the Istria County under the bilateral cooperation with Norwegian partners, IRENA said.

According to preliminary studies, offshore wind farms have been seen as the only significant source capable of ensuring the energy self-sufficiency of Istria.

Now the goal is to prepare a more detailed study to determine the potential for offshore wind farms around Istria, the agency explained.

The Istria County also intends to install solar power plants

The project proposed by IRENA is worth EUR 99,920.

Last year, the Istria County revealed a plan to become energy independent by installing offshore wind farms and solar power plants. The first projections saw a potential for 400 MW in offshore wind farms.

Over the last few years, several offshore wind projects have been launched for locations in the Adriatic Sea. Most of the ideas came from the Italian side. Croatian oil and gas company INA has started measuring wind potential on its gas platforms.