Iberdrola has signed an agreement with Ib Vogt for the construction of a 245MW solar project in Italy.
The Fenix project, in Sicily, will be one of the largest solar plants to be built in Italy.
Construction will start in March and it will be operational in 2025.
Ib Vogt is providing full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services as well as future operations & maintenance (O&M) once the project is completed.
The project will be connected to the grid through a 150kV grid connection and will use bifacial solar panels with a south-facing orientation maximising the energy production.
The project marks Ib Vogt’s first construction in Italy and was developed by a dedicated team from the ground up.
The sites for the solar plant have been carefully selected and will be built on land of scarce agriculture value and high desertification risks.
A thorough archaeological surveillance was conducted to ensure no archeological relevant locations are affected.
Additionally, Ib Vogt is maintaining environmental monitoring during construction and throughout the lifetime of the solar farm.
Ib Vogt said it is “dedicated to bringing lasting positive impacts to the region”, covering environmental, economic, and social benefits.
This includes a large-scale reforestation initiative, a research cooperation with the University of Palermo on soil quality and other environmental compensation measures.
In the future, an additional 60MW could be added to the project, bringing the total capacity to 305MW.
When it comes into operation, with its 424,638 photovoltaic modules, the plant will generate around 400 gigawatt hours a year.
Furthermore, it is expected to create direct local employment for approximately 500 workers during the construction phase and more than 100 stable jobs during the commercial operation phase.
In 2022, Iberdrola commissioned its first solar plant (23MW) in Italy, located in Montalto di Castro, Lazio.
In the same region, in 2023 the company also completed its second solar plant in Montefiascone (7MW) and started the construction of a 32MW solar plant in Tarquinia.
In addition to the Fenix project, two other solar plants, Limes 10 and Limes 15, which are 18MW and 36MW respectively, will begin construction in the first half of 2024.
Three more projects are also scheduled for the second half of the year and already have all necessary permits.
In total, Iberdrola will have 330MW under construction in Italy in 2024 and another 40MW at the beginning of 2025, reaching an installed capacity of 400MW and placing itself among the main renewable operators in the country.
“We have already taken major steps forward in our renewables development in Italy, and our growth in the country does not stop”, said Valerio Faccenda, Country Manager of Iberdrola Renewables in Italy.
He added: “Iberdrola has laid solid foundations to achieve our 2030 and 2035 objectives, with a 100% renewable portfolio of more than 115 wind, photovoltaic and storage projects in advanced development to deliver a total capacity of 5GW.”