Combining Solar & Agriculture: Italy’s Agrivoltaics Industry

Sophie Rappaz, Marketing Executive

Agrivoltaics, the combination of solar energy production and agricultural activities, has picked up momentum worldwide as a dual-benefit approach to land use. By installing solar panels above crops, it can maximise land productivity, generate renewable energy, and enhance crop yields by creating microclimates. Italy, with its pleasant climate and agricultural landscape, is growing as a leader in this sustainable initiative. Let’s dive deeper.

What Are Agrivoltaics?

To put it briefly, agrivoltaics, also known as agrophotovoltaics, involves the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels on agricultural land. These are typically mounted on elevated structures, allowing space for crops to grow underneath. This setup not only generates electricity but also provides shade, which can reduce water evaporation and protect plants from extreme weather. This combination can lead to enhanced efficiency and sustainability in energy production and agriculture.

Agrivoltaics in Italy

The use of agrivoltaics in Italy is a bit tricky. Up until May this year, Italy's commitment to renewable energy and sustainable agriculture positioned it at the forefront of the agrivoltaics movement. However, on May 7th, the Italian government issued a new decree that prohibits the deployment of large-scale solar plants on productive agricultural land to “avoid desertification of Italian agricultural land” and “regulate the use of photovoltaic panels.” This does not apply to projects currently undergoing the approval process. Agrivoltaics in which solar panels are installed at a minimum height of 2.1 meters above the ground would be exempted from the prohibition.

This comes as a bit of a surprise considering the Italian government has recently launched significant initiatives to support the development of agrivoltaics projects. The European Commission approved a €1.7 billion incentive scheme to boost the sector, aiming to deploy 1.04 GW of installed solar capacity through agrivoltaics systems by 2026?.

Land Use

The dual-use nature of agrivoltaics allows for more efficient land use, addressing concerns about the competition between food production and energy generation. One key benefit of agrivoltaics is the optimisation of land resources. In traditional solar farms, land is dedicated purely to energy production, often making them unusable for other purposes. Agrivoltaics, however, switches up this model by allowing the same piece of land to serve two functions. This is quite a significant function in a country like Italy, where land is at a premium and agriculture makes up a big part of the economy.

The design of agrivoltaics aims to support continuous agricultural activities. These solar panels are usually installed at a height that permits the operation of farming machinery and the growth of various crops underneath. The shading provided by the solar panels can create a microclimate that benefits certain crops. This can reduce heat stress and water evaporation, potentially leading to higher yields and reduced irrigation needs. Typically, panels are mounted 2-2.5 meters above the ground to accommodate this crop cultivation, or at a lower height of about 1.3 meters if the land is used for grazing livestock.

Energy Production

Agrivoltaics systems in Italy are already contributing to the country's renewable energy goals and major growth is expected in the coming years. Projections indicate that by 2026, Italy could achieve over 1 GW of installed agrivoltaics capacity?. This expansion is part of the country’s strategy to meet its renewable energy targets, which aim to produce 30% of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2030?.

Italy’s Leading Agrivoltaics Project

In March 2023, Enel Green Power (EGP) started the construction of a 170MW solar farm in Viterbo, central Italy, which is set to become the country’s largest agrivoltaics plant. It will consist of more than 300,000 panels arranged over an area of 220 hectares. When fully operational, it will produce 280 GWh per year, an amount of energy sufficient to meet the needs of 111,000 households and saving 26 million m3 of gas a year.

The value of the project lies in both the production capacity from renewable sources, and in its innovative and local approach. The plant will leverage on bifacial photovoltaic modules, technology enabling solar energy to be absorbed on both the front and rear surfaces, maximising the production of renewable energy. The project is being built in an area owned by a local company that is working with EGP on integrating agricultural activities at the plant.

Facilitating their Development through Expert Recruitment

With the country’s ambitious goals for agrivoltaics expansion, the development and success of these projects relies on the collaboration of diverse expertise.

At Climate17, we specialise in recruiting top talent in renewable energy and sustainability globally, playing a leading role in the growth of innovative fields, such as agrivoltaics. Our deep understanding of the industry and comprehensive approach allows us to source and place professionals who are not only skilled and aligned with the unique requirements of specific projects, but also passionate about driving sustainable change.

Whether you’re interested in discussing these insights further, are seeking talent to fill your roles or are interested in a career change, our dedicated Italian team is always on hand to assist you.