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At the end of 2019, 10.5 GW of wind capacity was installed in Italy, all onshore. The National Integrated Climate and Energy Plan sets a target of 18.4 GW of onshore wind capacity and 0.9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Significant exploitation of offshore wind resources in Italy is expected after 2030, using floating wind turbines, suitable for water depths greater than 50 m. This technology is at the demonstration phase at present. Results of a preliminary techno-economic assessment of floating wind plants in Italian marine areas in a medium (2030) and long-term (2060) scenario are presented. In 2030, a reference park with 10 MW wind turbines will be defined, and parametric costs, depending on distance from shore, were assessed. In 2060, possible wind resource variations due to climate change, and cost reductions due to large diffusion of the technology were considered in three case studies. The economic model used was the simple Levelized Cost of Energy (sLCoE). Different values of Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) were considered too. The results show LCoEs comparable to the ones expected for the sector in 2030. In 2060, even in the more pessimistic scenario, wind resource decreases will be abundantly compensated by expected cost reductions.

At the end of 2019, 10.5 GW of wind capacity was installed in Italy, all onshore. The National Integrated Climate and Energy Plan sets a target of 18.4 GW of onshore wind capacity and 0.9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Significant exploitation of offshore wind resources in Italy is expected after 2030, using floating wind turbines, suitable for water depths greater than 50 m. This technology is at the demonstration phase at present. Results of a preliminary techno-economic assessment of floating wind plants in Italian marine areas in a medium (2030) and long-term (2060) scenario are presented. In 2030, a reference park with 10 MW wind turbines will be defined, and parametric costs, depending on distance from shore, were assessed. In 2060, possible wind resource variations due to climate change, and cost reductions due to large diffusion of the technology were considered in three case studies. The economic model used was the simple Levelized Cost of Energy (sLCoE). Different values of Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) were considered too. The results show LCoEs comparable to the ones expected for the sector in 2030. In 2060, even in the more pessimistic scenario, wind resource decreases will be abundantly compensated by expected cost reductions.

In many countries, pioneers in wind plants installation during the last decades of XX century, there is a progressive shortage of land based sites suitable for new wind farms and, at the same time, many installed wind turbines are reaching the end-of-life. Three options can be considered for a wind plant at the end-of-life: the decommissioning, the revamping and the repowering. The main advantages of the repowering option are the better exploitation of wind resource, the reduction of the wind turbine number and the prevention of further “virgin” land consumption. However, there are some issues that may affect the success of repowering initiatives: the significantly high investment costs and long and the complex authorization process. In this frame, in order to support both operators and decision-makers, RSE undertook a research activity concerning the evaluation of the wind repowering potential in Italy. The main objectives of this work were to understand the amount, the features and the geographical distribution of wind capacity that will reach the end-of-life in 2020 and also to develop repowering scenarios and to evaluate their technical-economic sustainability. A three steps methodology was designed and applied for the evaluation of the national repowering potential

In many countries, pioneers in wind plants installation during the last decades of XX century, there is a progressive shortage of land based sites suitable for new wind farms and, at the same time, many installed wind turbines are reaching the end-of-life. Three options can be considered for a wind plant at the end-of-life: the decommissioning, the revamping and the repowering. The main advantages of the repowering option are the better exploitation of wind resource, the reduction of the wind turbine number and the prevention of further “virgin” land consumption. However, there are some issues that may affect the success of repowering initiatives: the significantly high investment costs and long and the complex authorization process. In this frame, in order to support both operators and decision-makers, RSE undertook a research activity concerning the evaluation of the wind repowering potential in Italy. The main objectives of this work were to understand the amount, the features and the geographical distribution of wind capacity that will reach the end-of-life in 2020 and also to develop repowering scenarios and to evaluate their technical-economic sustainability. A three steps methodology was designed and applied for the evaluation of the national repowering potential