A floating Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) buoy has been deployed in waters off the coast of Brindisi, Italy, to conduct surveys and preparations for the construction of the Kailia Energia and Lupiae Maris floating offshore wind farms.
Equipped with fully autonomous remote sensing devices, the buoy will remain inside the water for a minimum of twelve months to obtain detailed information on the characteristics of the sea area where the floating platforms of the two wind farms will be located.
The buoy will collect data on wind, weather conditions, and wave motion in the water.
Kailia Energia is a floating wind project jointly developed by Renantis and BlueFloat Energy off the coast between Brindisi and Lecce.
The wind farm will comprise 78 wind turbines and will have the capacity to produce 3.5 TWh of clean energy per year, equivalent to the consumption of approximately one million households.
The estimated investment for the 1.2 GW project is EUR 3.5 billion, creating employment opportunities for around 1,500 people during construction, said BlueFloat.
“The deployment of this buoy at sea represents the first activity that we are developing in collaboration with the joint venture promoting the Lupiae Maris wind farm. We are confident that creating synergies with other operators and pooling different experiences can only benefit the development of such an innovative sector“, said Ksenia Balanda, Managing Director for the Renantis-BlueFloat partnership in Italy