3rd Partners meeting and 2nd Transregional SBE lab in Bari
27/05/2025
On May 13th, we held the highly anticipated 3rd Partners Meeting, which took place in the charming city of Bari. This event, a key milestone in our ongoing project, brought together all project partners for a full day of coordination, exchange, and strategic planning. The meeting aimed to provide updates, address challenges, and set clear goals for the next steps in our collaborative efforts.
The day began with a comprehensive overview of the project’s management and financial status, ensuring that all partners were aligned on the project's progress and future direction. This was followed by a detailed review of the ongoing work packages, where each team shared their accomplishments, challenges, and the next steps they are taking to meet the project’s objectives.
A significant part of the agenda was dedicated to strategic discussions, where partners engaged in thought-provoking conversations to explore new opportunities and ensure that the project stays on track to achieve its deliverables. The discussions covered a variety of topics, from addressing upcoming milestones to fine-tuning the overall vision of the project.
By the end of the day, participants had not only gained clarity on the project's future trajectory but also strengthened their professional relationships. As a refreshing conclusion to the intense day of discussions, the partners enjoyed a wonderful guided tour of Bari's historic center. This gave them the chance to unwind, explore the city’s rich cultural heritage, and deepen their connections in a more relaxed setting.
Overall, the 3rd Partners Meeting proved to be a highly productive and enjoyable experience, reinforcing the collaboration and commitment among all partners involved. Looking ahead, the next steps are clear, and the momentum generated during this meeting will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the project in the coming months.
The 2nd Transregional SBE Lab – Blue Economy Synergies and Offshore Wind Futures, an international event within the European project BEYOND (Blue Economy sYnergies fOr sustaiNable Development), took place on May 14th in Bari, at the headquarters of the Puglia Region – Department of Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality.
The meeting brought together institutional representatives, research institutions, innovative companies and stakeholders from Italy and Croatia, with the aim of addressing the challenges and opportunities related to the development of offshore wind energy in the Adriatic Sea, with a view to environmental sustainability and synergy with the sectors of the blue economy.
An integrated and sustainable approach to energy transition
The BEYOND project, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia VI-A 2021-2027 Programme, stands out for its innovative approach that looks beyond the simple production of electricity: it promotes the balanced coexistence between offshore plants and marine ecosystems, the strengthening of coastal economies and the dialogue between research, business and public administrations.
During the workshop, Italian and Croatian experts illustrated the current and future framework of the electricity grid in their respective countries, underlining the need for regulatory and infrastructural harmonization to accommodate the growing demand for connection from offshore wind farms.
Offshore wind energy: between technological innovation and ecosystem protection
Among the keynote speakers, Silvio Maselli from the AERO Association (Association of Offshore Renewable Energies) presented the state of the art of offshore technologies in Italy, with a focus on floating platforms and multi-level authorization processes.
Chiara Giordano, from TERNA SpA, illustrated the functioning of the system for managing requests for connection to the national electricity grid, highlighting the main bottlenecks and the actions planned to increase the network capacity.
Stipe Ćurlin, from the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), discussed the planning of the development of offshore wind farms in Croatia, with specific reference to studies on wind potential, green hydrogen and transmission costs.
Roberto Carlucci from the University of Bari – Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment discussed the ecological impacts of offshore plants, from the construction phase to operational activities, suggesting design criteria to minimize their impact on marine fauna and habitats.
Stefan Ivić, from the University of Rijeka – Faculty of Engineering, presented comparative data on different parameters (wind speed, sea depth) and on the natural conditions in the Adriatic, in the pilot areas of the project, suitable for the development of the plants.
Fabio Favero, from T2i – Technology Transfer and Innovation S.C.A R.L. illustrated concrete synergies between the sectors of the blue economy, also through European case studies such as the Scottish Highlands and the North Sea.
Carlo Kraskovic, from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Naval Technology Cluster – MareFVG, described the Green Marine Med initiative, which aims to decarbonize the maritime sector and transform ports into energy hubs integrated with renewables.
A platform for dialogue for the future of the Mediterranean
The laboratory concluded with a moment of open discussion, in which a strong convergence emerged on the need for a shared vision for the future of the blue economy in the Mediterranean: a future based on innovation, transnational collaboration and environmental protection.
The BEYOND SBE Lab confirmed the centrality of dialogue between territories, institutions and companies to address the great challenges of energy transition and climate change in a concrete and integrated way.
