29.07.2026
GEODIS designs transport and installation of an offshore energy storage prototype in Italy
GEODIS contributed to the deployment of an innovative offshore energy storage prototype, the size of an Olympic swimming pool, in Italy off the coast of Calabria. By engineering its launching, transport and installation, the Group is leveraging its expertise tosupport a technology designed to facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the power grid, thereby confirming its position in next-generation offshore projects.
GEODIS carried out engineering for the launching, towing, and installation operations of an offshore energy storage tank for the company Sizable Energy. The prototype is installed within the Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL), one of Italy’s leading offshore test sites for innovative marine energy technologies, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Calabria, Italy.
This system is designed to store electricity produced by offshore wind turbines or other renewable energy sources and then deliver it back to the grid when demand increases. By decoupling production and consumption periods, this technology helps strengthen the stability of the power grid while providing an alternative to conventional battery energy storage systems (BESS).
For this project, GEODIS supported Sizable Energy by providing engineering expertise to develop and enhance the solution envisioned by the client for launching, towing, and installing the prototype. The team performed lifting calculations and drawings, defined the crane positioning, designed the lifting plans, slings, and rigging, developed installation procedures, as well as the engineering for towing and mooring hook-up operations. They also provided technical support and on-site supervision throughout the operations to ensure a safe and proper execution.
The offshore reservoir measures 50 meters in diameter, which is equivalent to the surface area of an Olympic swimming pool and weighs approximately 11 tonnes. Its launch required the use of a 350-tonne crane to perform a lift with an outreach of approximately 50 meters, to meet the site constraints and environmental requirements. This operation demonstrates GEODIS’ expertise in precise lift engineering and complex offshore activities.
“This project demonstrates our ability to support innovative technologies well beyond transportation. Thanks to our offshore engineering expertise, we help our clients turn complex concepts into safe and reliable operational solutions. This first achievement opens new development opportunities for GEODIS in the field of offshore energy storage, both in Italy and internationally.” said Nicolas Bonnier, Global Manager Offshore Wind Solutions, Project Logistics at GEODIS.
This first reference in the field of offshore energy storage illustrates GEODIS’s ability to apply its engineering expertise to next-generation energy technologies and paves the way for future projects in this rapidly evolving sector.