MET Group has commissioned its 10MW Ferrera Erbognone solar power plant in northern Italy, marking the Swiss-based company’s first Agri-PV project in the country.
The installation, located in a traditional rice-growing region, is expected to generate 15GWh of renewable electricity annually – enough to power around 6000 households.
Construction began in July 2024, with EPC services delivered by CMC Europe Italy. MET Energia Italia will offtake the electricity produced.
The project covers 16 hectares and includes 16,000 solar panels. Around 2800 plants will be cultivated in a 50-metre mitigation area surrounding the site to enhance biodiversity.
Clive Turton, executive chairman of MET Group’s Green Assets division, said: “We are delighted with this important milestone in growing our presence in Italy. What pleases me most is that this solar park exemplifies how MET places emphasis on responsible planning and management of natural resources during construction. Within this context, responsible water management is a priority, guaranteeing that water use is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial.”
The plant is owned by Keppel MET Renewables, a 50-50 joint venture between MET Group and Singapore-based Keppel.
Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel’s Infrastructure Division and MET board member, said: “The completion of our first grid-scale Agri-PV project in Western Europe is proof of Keppel’s ability to turn strategy into action. It builds our operational track record in adjacencies to flexible power, while diversifying Keppel’s geographical presence. The Keppel-MET joint venture also exemplifies our asset-light, capital-efficient model – scalable across Europe and enhancing earnings visibility for Keppel.”
MET Group said the project forms part of its growing renewables portfolio, which includes 424MW of operational solar and wind assets across Europe and a development pipeline exceeding 1GW.