Enel Green Power (EGP) has started construction on a 170 MW solar PV project in Italy claiming that it will be the country's largest solar power plant and also largest agrivoltaic facility in the European nation.
Located in Tarquinia in the province of Viterbo, Latium, the Tarquinia project is expected to generate close to 280 GWh annually on an average once fully operational. Construction is expected to last around 13 months.
EGP said the project will be located in an area owned by a local company that will work with it to integrated agricultural activities at the plant. Plan is to grow fodder and borage in vacant areas between the rows of solar panels and in the buffer zones of overhead power lines. Olive trees will be planted around the perimeter.
"The solar plant we are building in Tarquinia shows that an increase in the use of renewable energy can be harmoniously combined with agricultural activities," said EGP CEO Salvatore Bernabei. "In fact, this plant will seamlessly integrate with the local area and will host crops, resulting in a positive impact on the environment, the economy and the local area, as well as helping to reduce Italy's energy dependency."
EGP plans to use bifacial solar panels mounted on trackers for the Tarquinia project.
Part of Enel Group, EGP has been exploring agrivoltaics in Spain, Italy and Greece with demonstration plants since 2021 to learn about co-existence between solar PV technology and local farming practices (see Enel Green Power Sees Potential In Agrivoltaics).
Agrivoltaics are big on Italy's energy transition agenda as its €1.2 billion scheme to support investments for solar panel deployment in agricultural sector under €191.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) was approved by the European Commission last year. The funding will be available as direct grants and will run till June 30, 2026 (see Italy's €1.2 Billion Agrivoltaic Scheme Approved).
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