Project Adria Wind

Conference on the potential of offshore wind farms “Adria Wind powered by INA” held in Zagreb

Organized by the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP) and INA, “Adria Wind powered by INA”conference was held in Zagreb to explore the potential of offshore wind energy generation in the Adriatic Sea. The event highlighted the crucial role offshore wind farms play in the European strategy to increase the share of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Union has set ambitious targets for the development of blue energy—renewable energy generated at sea—aiming to increase offshore wind capacity to 60 GW by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050. While the development of offshore wind in Croatia is still in its early stages, a key milestone is INA’s wind measurement project— the first of its kind in the Croatian Adriatic—which lays the foundation for future progress. The goal of the conference was to gather all relevant stakeholders for an open discussion on both the opportunities and numerous challenges involved in developing offshore wind farms in Croatia. Attendees were welcomed on behalf of INA by Management Board member Hrvoje Šimović.

“Employers recognize the green transition not only as a responsibility but also as an opportunity. Offshore wind is not just about energy—it’s about developing domestic industry, shipbuilding, new technologies, research, and jobs. What we need is swift yet deliberate action—coordinated efforts between all stakeholders, including industry, ministries, local authorities, and international partners. This conference is proof that we are on the right path,” said Irena Weber, CEO of HUP.

“As a leader in the energy sector, INA is aware of global shifts and the pressing need to diversify energy sources. The Adria Wind project is a synergy of our longstanding experience in the oil and gas industry and innovative renewable energy technologies. The development of offshore wind farms has shown clear potential, and we believe that, given a favorable regulatory environment, it could become an attractive investment opportunity and a concrete step forward in the energy transition,” said Hrvoje Glavaš, Director of Industrial Services at INA.

Back in 2022, INA began measuring wind potential at its gas platforms in the northern Adriatic. With support from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program, the company launched a feasibility study for a 300 MW offshore wind farm between Pula and Ravenna. The study is assessing the potential for installing wind farms with a total capacity of nearly 2.7 GW. Work on the study continues this year and will inform future investment decisions. In parallel, the Istria County and the Istrian Regional Energy Agency (IRENA) are developing strategic guidelines for offshore wind development in the northern Adriatic.

INA already has hands-on experience in renewable electricity production: it has built two solar power plants in Molve and Sisak, with a combined annual production capacity of up to 16,000 MWh. At the end of March, the company began work on its first geothermal well near Đurđevac. Projects have also been launched for green hydrogen production at the Rijeka Oil Refinery and biomethane production in Sisak, along with plans for new solar installations.

The Adria Wind project is a highly complex undertaking. During the conference, the need for broad cooperation between industry, government institutions, and investors was strongly emphasized to enable the accelerated development of offshore renewable energy projects. Representatives from the Ministry of Economy stated that work is underway to establish a regulatory framework for offshore wind development—an essential prerequisite for progress and for attracting investment.

Wind measurement campaign

The first offshore wind measurement campaign in Croatia was conducted in North Adriatic by INA.

The aim and scope of the wind campaign were to assess the wind potential at the designated area, to measure wind speed and direction, and then to interpret it in a wind study. The Wind Campaign started on 28 March 2022.

LIDAR wind measurement devices have been installed on INA platforms Izabela North and Ivana A. The measurements of wind speeds and direction were monitored for 12 months to provide a better understanding of the wind regime on the site itself and a full bankable wind resource assessment considering the industry standards.

To be able to better evaluate technical needs, a wider area in Adriatic, options for subsidies, permitting processes, and identify any additional risk or/and upside potentials pre-feasibility study is the natural next step.

Preparatory study for establishing an offshore wind farm in the north Adriatic

INA applied for the Call for preparatory studies for cross-border renewable energy (CB RES) projects (CEF Energy 2022 – Call for Preparatory Studies for Cross-border Renewable Energy Projects | The European Maritime Spatial Planning Platform (europa.eu)) to implement exploratory tasks to identify and develop the main parameters of the planned CB RES project and to formalize the cross-border cooperation mechanism between Croatia and Italy in January 2023. INA’s ADRIA Wind Project was selected for funding and the Grant Agreement was signed on 28 June 2023.

The Adria Wind Project consists of study preparation started on 1 September 2023 and the duration of 20 months. Through using preparatory studies, INA would like to be on the CEF map to apply for future Calls for equipment & works co-financing.

The preparatory study will consist of four different pillars:

• The technical assessment will include a preliminary technical study, electrical and site resource assessments, an environmental and social impact screening, and will assess the potential implementation of interconnection between Croatia and Italy.
• The financial assessment will cover the cost-benefit, risks and opportunities analysis of the potential CB RES project.
• The commercial assessment will run in parallel with the financial assessment. It will analyze the market demand for electricity as well as the electricity price movements and monitor global energy trends on the market through a feed-in premium study and a Power Purchase Agreement assessment.
• Stakeholder engagement fosters communication and stakeholder involvement activities and cooperation activities between Croatia and Italy, including the assessment of cost-benefit sharing.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or [name of the granting authority]. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Cross-border renewable energy projects (cef energy)

Cross-border renewable energy projects (CEF Energy) – new – European Commission (europa.eu)

Signed contract for preparatory study for establishing an offshore wind farm in the north Adriatic for Adria Wind project

INA signed a contract for the preparation of a study on wind potential measurement with company Tractebel Overdick.

April 2024 – This collaboration aims to thoroughly investigate the wind potential at selected locations and provide important data and analyses necessary for the development of future wind farms. Through precise measurements and analyses, we plan to identify optimal locations for wind turbine placement to maximize clean energy production, while having in mind the highest standards of environmental protection and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This contract signifies our commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. We believe that investing in renewable energy sources is crucial for creating a more sustainable future for our communities and for future generations.

For additional information about this project or media inquiries, please contact pr@ina.hr.