€1.5 Billion Italian Subsidy For Agri-PV

• Italy has issued a decree offering €1.5 billion funding to encourage 375 MW of solar PV capacity build
• It will be offered for agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial sectors to eliminate the use of land
• Funding amount under Parco Agrisolare scheme will be offered through competitive auction rounds that will be introduced soon

The Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies has announced €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in subsidies for installing 375 MW of solar PV capacity on buildings used for agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial sectors. The aim is to completely discourage use of land for solar power.

MiPAAF or Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali in Italian language, has signed a decree to this effect calling the scheme Parco Agrisolare, funds for which will be extended from the country's €191.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Plan dubbed PNRR.

Around 40% of the subsidy amount for Parco Agrisolare will be reserved for projects in the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. The cost may also cover the costs of development and modernization of structure apart from the PV system installation.

"Thus, the diversification of energy sources is initiated, pushing on renewables, which represent a central element to reduce the energy costs incurred by companies in the sector," said MiPAAF Minister Stefano Patuanelli.

The ministry will now notify the European Commission for the decree and launch a competitive auction round to invite applications.

Recently, the Italian government announced a Decree Law n. 17 that aims to simplify rooftop solar installations in the country.

According to local PV association Italia Solare, the country installed more than 936 MW solar in 2021, taking its total installed PV capacity at the end of last year to over 22.5 GW (see Italy Installed Over 936 MW New Solar).