Project BEYOND aims to transform offshore wind power farms (OWFs) in the Adriatic into catalysts for sustainable development across various blue economy sectors, rather than just energy producers. With offshore wind resources in specific Adriatic hotspots, the project seeks to analyse and identify optimal micro locations for OWF installation to harness renewable energy potential and drive green transition in Italy and Croatia.
Traditionally, OWFs are designed solely for electricity generation, with little consideration for their impact on marine ecosystems. BEYOND proposes a novel approach that integrates marine ecosystem preservation with the development of multiple blue economy sectors. By involving stakeholders from both countries in a quadruple helix model (involving government, academia, industry, and civil society), the project aims to develop OWF designs that prioritize ecosystem health alongside economic outputs.
The project will focus on four pilot regions across the north, middle, and south Adriatic, where OWF systems will be modeled to optimize synergy with blue economy sectors and support green hydrogen production. Transitioning marine transport to green hydrogen, particularly in the environmentally sensitive Adriatic Sea, is a key objective for BEYOND, offering significant potential for future economic benefits.
Partners:
- IRENA - Istrian Regional Energy Agency Ltd., Croatia
- University of Rijeka - Faculty of Engineering, Croatia
- T2I – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND INNOVATION S.C.A R.L., Italy
- SINLOC SPA, Italy
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Italy
- Puglia Region, Italy
- Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, Croatia
- Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia