Enel Green Power has kicked off construction of a 170MW agrivoltaic solar project.
The developer said it will the largest solar plant in Italy as well as the country’s biggest agrivoltaic plant, fully integrated with the agricultural sector in Tarquinia, in the province of Viterbo, Latium.
The site will use bifacial photovoltaic modules – with technology enabling solar energy to be absorbed on both the front and rear surfaces – which will be mounted on trackers to boost the production of renewable energy.
This agrivoltaic solar farm will be built in an area owned by a local company that will be working with Enel Green Power on integrating agricultural activities at the plant.
Specifically, fodder and borage will be grown in vacant areas between the rows of solar panels and in the buffer zones of overhead power lines, while olive trees will be planted around the perimeter.
Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power, said: “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.
“In fact, this plant will seamlessly integrate with the local area and will host crops, resulting in a positive impact on the environment, economy and local area, as well as helping to reduce Italy’s energy dependency.”
The companies involved in the construction of the plant are from Latium, most of them based in the province of Viterbo, and up to around 330 people will be employed over an estimated construction period of 13 months.