The Italian cabinet has responded positively to environmental impact assessment (EIA) of 13 agrivoltaic projects in the country, thus clearing the way for 593.662 MW of new PV capacity in Apulia and Basilicata regions to move forward.
These facilities will be spread across Stornara, Brindisi, Cellino, San Marco, Mesagne, Manfredonia, Cerignola, Ordona, Orta Nova, Grottaglie, Ascoli Satriano, and Tolve municipalities, among others.
Among the projects approved, is one in Ascoli Satriano municipality which comprises a PV system and a 'super-intensive olive growing plant'. Another project with a maximum capacity of 48.635 MW will be located in Foggia municipality.
The Stornara 1 project with an installed capacity of 48.278 MW will come up in Stornara municipality, according to the Council of Ministers.
Under the energy decree 17/2022 announced in 2022, the Italian government has simplified permitting procedures for solar PV systems, including those on agricultural land. One of the measures included was exemption for projects of up to 20 MW capacity that did not fall within environmentally sensitive areas to be exempted from getting EIA clearance.
Local solar association Italia Solare back then welcomed the move which it said will bring solar power generation closer to the site of consumption and speed up the country's renewable energy installations.
The country is also supporting agrivoltaics through its €1.2 billion support scheme as part of Italy's €191.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) (see Italy's €1.2 Billion Agrivoltaic Scheme Approved).
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