2nd Regional SBE Lab Held in Split: Focus on Sustainable Blue Economy and Offshore Wind
08/04/2026
Within the framework of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme, the 2nd Regional SBE Lab was held on February 24, 2026, at Hotel Cornaro. The event gathered representatives from the public sector, academia, professional institutions, and non-governmental organizations to explore the potential of offshore wind energy and the sustainable blue economy in Split-Dalmatia County.
The meeting focused on the synergies between the BEYOND project and the ADRIONWIND project. While BEYOND examines multipurpose offshore infrastructure linking wind energy production, hydrogen, and aquaculture, ADRIONWIND aims to strengthen innovation capacities and foster cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Participants engaged in discussions on the methodology for selecting pilot areas, regulatory challenges in Croatia’s marine space, and the potential impacts on biodiversity, fisheries, and tourism. A strong emphasis was placed on evidence-based decision-making as a foundation for the sustainable decarbonization of maritime transport and increased regional energy independence.
Key conclusions highlighted BEYOND as a structured framework for stakeholder dialogue and offshore wind planning. At the same time, regulatory and infrastructure-related barriers were identified as major challenges. The importance of green hydrogen was also emphasized as a solution for energy storage and grid stability, with promising applications in maritime transport.
It was underlined that identified pilot areas remain in the analytical phase and serve as a basis for future decision-making rather than confirmed project sites. Environmental sustainability was also a key topic, with a need for tools such as biodiversity sensitivity maps—particularly for birds—to support responsible planning.
Split-Dalmatia County played a central role in the organization and implementation of the event, acting as a bridge between project objectives and real-world conditions. The participation of experts from energy, maritime, and environmental sectors ensured a strong foundation for the future development of sustainable blue economy solutions.
