Croatian oil and gas company INA has been awarded €252,500 by the European Union (EU) to conduct preparatory studies for a proposed 300MW offshore wind farm in the Northern Adriatic Sea. The studies will assess the feasibility of the project, which would be located in a 2,200 km2 area of the sea near Croatia and Italy.
INA will carry out four different pillars of research, including technical, financial, commercial and stakeholder engagement assessments. The company will also formalise cross-border cooperation mechanisms between Croatia and Italy. If the outcome of the studies is positive, construction of the wind farm could begin in 2026, with commercial operations commencing in 2029. The project would increase renewable energy generation capacity and improve energy security in both countries.
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The funding was granted through the 2022 Connecting Europe Facility Energy call for preparatory studies for cross-border renewable energy projects. The CEF Energy support will co-fund the preparatory studies, which will include a preliminary technical study, electrical and site resource assessments, an environmental and social impact screening, and an assessment of the potential implementation of an interconnection between Croatia and Italy.
The financial assessment will cover the cost-benefit analysis, risks and opportunities analysis of the potential project, while the commercial assessment will analyse the market demand for electricity, monitor global energy trends and assess the potential for power purchase agreements. Lastly, the stakeholder engagement pillar will focus on communication and cooperation activities between Croatia and Italy, including the assessment of cost-benefit sharing.
If successful, the wind farm project will significantly increase renewable energy generation capacity and improve energy security in both countries. The project could begin construction in 2026 and commence commercial operations in 2029.
