For years the problem of pollution has affected above all a sector: that of electricity generation. Fossil fuels present various problems ranging from environmental to economic and renewable sources are making their way year after year. Among these is thewind power, considered one of the best sources in the landscape of green production. And in Puglia there is one of the largest and most active wind turbine factories in Europe which has been feeding a constantly growing market for years.
Wind energy made in Italy
We are Taranto, a great industrial center not only in Puglia, but in all of Southern Italy. The first thing we think about, when we talk about Taranto and industries, is definitely theIlva. It is the largest steel mill in Europe, and guarantees work for thousands of people. However, there has been no shortage of scandals and controversies related to environmental problems and the impact this pole has on the territory.
Not far away is another factory, less known, but of great interest. This is the establishment of the Vestas, a Danish company specializing in the energy sector. Inside 700 workers they work hard to meet the growing need for wind energy.
Active since 1998, in less than 20 years it has produced over 18 wind turbines. Plants sold all over the world and considered among the best in their sector. This is because each shovel is made with a care that brings it closer to an artisanal product rather than an industrial one. Several procedures, in fact, require the manual work of the workers, such as the application and finishing of the external coating.
The factory is divided into 5 areas in which they are produced 3 types of wind turbines. Each with unique characteristics, demonstrating that they are not all the same as many might think. Production times are varied and require a specific number of workers. For a small shovel 6 people and 40 hours of work are enough. The larger models need instead 300 hours e dozens of workers. But rest assured, all production processes are powered by clean and renewable energy!
Bureaucratic difficulties
As mentioned before, the wind turbines produced in the Taranto plant are mainly sold abroad. But how many exactly? Almost 90% of those giants are installed on non-Italian soil. An impressive number that denotes the non-idyllic relationship between Italy and wind energy. In our country there is no shortage of plants, indeed we are the fifth European power with regards to wind power generation. The problems are related to bureaucratic and administrative speeches. Indeed, what industry experts accuse are the difficulties in obtaining permits for the installation and management of wind farms. Put simply, if you want to install or renovate a wind farm, it takes time. Too long compared to other countries. And this turns out to be a big limitation, especially given the great potential of our country in renewable energy.
