Offshore wind power in the Mediterranean: the key priorities for the sector's development
MOREnergy Lab from Politecnico di Torino, and WindEurope, Europe’s leading wind energy association, have studied the effective priorities for accelerating the development of offshore wind power in the Mediterranean. Published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviewsthe article named “Potentials and challenges of floating wind in the Mediterranean Sea: a joint industrial and academic perspective”, signed by Ardemia Acampora, Bruno Paduano, Riccardo Longo, Enrico Giglio, Alexandre Fremaux, Lizet Ramirez, Vasiliki Klonari and Giuliana Mattiazzo, discusses the key requirements for transforming the potential of offshore wind power into viable and economically sustainable projects. The study stems from direct collaboration between research and industry, integrating the academic perspective of Politecnico di Torino with WindEurope’s systemic vision, alongside contributions and priorities identified by industry. The aim is to provide policy-makers and industry stakeholders with analytical insights and evidence to strengthen the competitiveness of offshore wind in Europe.
The study shows that the stability and clarity of the regulatory framework – with particular regard to authorisations, auctions and network access – are just as crucial as the technological maturity of the projects. More predictable procedural timelines and risk-reducing tools are, indeed, essential conditions for attracting investment. Likewise, infrastructure and the industrial supply chain are crucial: suitable ports, production capacity, logistics and specialist skills are needed to build plants on an industrial scale.
A further factor, critical to the sector’s development, concerns the electricity grid. Offshore installations naturally require a connection to the mainland and must be integrated efficiently into the energy system: the availability of suitable connections and the capacity of the grid have a direct impact on the timelines, costs and economic viability of projects. Environmental sustainability and social acceptability also play a crucial role in determining the feasibility of projects: the study emphasises the importance of incorporating environmental safeguards, monitoring activities and dialogue with local communities right from the earliest stages of development.
The study aims to support credible and achievable growth in offshore wind energy in the Mediterranean, promoting greater alignment between public policies, industrial decisions and technical priorities in a region that is strategic for European energy security and competitiveness.
“The development of floating offshore wind power in the Mediterranean represents an industrial and strategic challenge. This study confirms the relevance not merely of technological availability, but of the ability to set the right conditions for existing potential to be translated into feasible, sustainable and competitive projects. This requires planning, clear regulations, port infrastructure, expertise and an industrial supply chain that can grow alongside the projects. From this perspective, our collaboration with WindEurope and our dialogue with industry stakeholders confirm the role of university research as a forum for integrating scientific analysis, industrial vision, well-informed insights into public debate, and strategic decision-making. For Politecnico di Torino, MOREnergy Lab and the Energy Centre, Offshore wind power is a strategic area for the development of knowledge, tools and assessments that will help strengthen the competitiveness of the Italian and European energy and industrial systems”, says Giuliana Mattiazzo, Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering-DIMEAS at Politecnico di Torino, member of the Energy Center Lab and co-author of the study.
“Floating offshore wind can play an important role in unlocking the Mediterranean’s offshore renewable energy potential. This joint analysis shows that technology is only one part of the equation: predictable regulatory frameworks, coordinated grid planning, suitable port infrastructure and supply-chain readiness are all essential to make projects credible, bankable and deliverable. WindEurope is pleased to have contributed to this work with Politecnico di Torino. It provides evidence-based insights for the next phase of offshore wind development in the Mediterranean”, says WindEurope Deputy CEO Malgosia Bartosik.