O.T.H.E.R - Offshore Testing Hub for Energy and Research by Clust-ER Green Tech

The proposal aims to accelerate the development of renewable offshore energy in the Northern Adriatic by creating a dedicated Offshore Testing Hub near the port of Ravenna, addressing the major obstacles encountered in recent Italian offshore wind projects - slow and complex permitting, fragmented expertise, and limited opportunities for real-world testing. The solution envisions a fully authorised and infrastructure-ready test area equipped with a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform for real-time monitoring, simulation, validation and comparison of floating offshore technologies. This facility would allow companies and researchers to test and certify new solutions under realistic marine conditions, even when different technologies are not installed simultaneously, thanks to integrated digital models. The initiative includes feasibility studies, installation of network connections, sensors and simulation tools, and testing activities conducted with industrial operators. By enabling rapid, cost-effective and safe technology development, the project would strengthen the regional supply chain, support the transition of the local Oil&Gas ecosystem, and position the Northern Adriatic as a national hub for offshore energy innovation. The Ravenna area (already authorised for offshore wind and solar developments and hosting the Ravenna CCS project) offers a strategic environment to integrate renewable offshore technologies with hard-to-abate sectors and accelerate the energy transition.