As part of the opening day of the TEF – Taranto Eco Forum 2025, Fulvio Mamone Capria, president of AERO – Association of Offshore Renewable Energies, highlighted the strategic role of Puglia, and particularly Taranto, in the development of renewable energy in Italy, especially offshore wind power.

“We are pleased to return today to a region that is once again confirmed as strategic for the future of renewable energies, particularly offshore wind,” said Mamone Capria. “Puglia and Taranto are emerging as a major industrial and logistical hub for the clean energy supply chain.”

The Port of Taranto has been identified as a strategic hub for the construction, assembly, and logistics of offshore wind turbines, laying the foundation for a new phase of sustainable industrial growth with positive impacts on employment and the decarbonization of the national energy system.

Among the most recent developments, Capria welcomed the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Barium Bay project, which involves 1,110 MW of floating wind energy off the coast of Puglia. This milestone confirms the potential of the region and gives momentum to further investments, despite ongoing regulatory and permitting uncertainties.

Mamone Capria also welcomed the remarks of Vannia Gava, Deputy Minister of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, who emphasized the key role of offshore wind in the country’s decarbonization process.

“Our presence at the Taranto Eco Forum sends a clear message: we believe that the energy transition must involve strengthening local regions and enhancing their industrial capabilities and natural assets. Today, Taranto represents both a challenge and a major opportunity: transforming a city that symbolizes heavy industry into the capital of offshore renewables is an achievable goal — one that requires vision, commitment, and cohesion among institutions, businesses, and civil society,” concluded the AERO president.