Hexicon wins grid permits for 7.1 GW of floating wind in Italy

Swedish floating wind specialist Hexicon AB (STO:HEXI) has received permits to connect six floating wind sites in Italy with a combined capacity of 7.1 GW to the national grid.

The permits were granted by Italian transmission system operator (TSO) Terna SpA, Hexicon said last week.

The Swedish developer is active in Italy through AvenHexicon, a 50/50 joint venture with local renewables developer Avapa Energy Srl. AvenHexicon is developing seven sites for floating wind off the coasts of Sardinia, Sicily and Puglia in southern Italy and the permit for the seventh project is awaited shortly.

By granting a connection permit, Terna pledges to provide the necessary capacity for the connection of the six wind floaters to the grid. The permit is part of the procedure preceding the issue of the main authorisation for the construction and operation of an offshore wind farm, Hexicon noted.

“The progress is moving at record speed, which speaks for Italy's ambition to develop renewables in the country. Having the grid connection ready is yet another milestone passed, and one which significantly increases the value of each project,” said AvenHexicon's chief executive Alberto Dalla Rosa. 

Hexicon sees a strong potential for floating wind in Italy which has a vast coastline and excellent wind resources in the Mediterranean Sea.

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