Zelestra has begun full commercial operations at Ginosa solar plant in Puglia, Italy.
The 6.5MWdc project is backed by a long-term power purchase agreement with BKW Energy, and construction supported around 50 jobs, according to the company.
Zelestra added that Ginosa is its first fully operational asset in an Italian portfolio of more than 1.4GW of solar and battery storage projects.
The Agri-PV scheme sits within a wider collaboration with BKW that also includes the 9.5MWdc Bellomo agrivoltaic project in Modica, Sicily.
Ginosa will produce 11.7GWh annually, powering the equivalent of 4000 Italian homes and avoiding nearly 3700 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Bianca Sarbu, head of trading and origination at BKW, said: “This successful operationalization clearly demonstrates how strong partnerships help bring more renewable energy into the system.
“Together with Zelestra, BKW is creating the future of clean energy in Italy and accelerating the transition toward a more sustainable power mix.”
Eliano Russo, Zelestra’s chief executive in Italy, said: “2026 will be another year of major expansion for Zelestra in Italy, and fully energizing our first solar project is the perfect catalyst for the growth journey ahead.”
He added: “We are now focused on doubling our 1.4 GW pipeline this year, completing the Bellomo agrivoltaics project, and starting construction on many further projects that we secured contracts for last year in the FER X auctions.”
Zelestra recently closed its first green financing agreement in Italy for around €13 million related to Ginosa and Bellomo.
In December 2025 the company secured contracts for nine projects in the FER X auctions enabling up to 168MW of new solar capacity to be built.
Zelestra also announced the initial offtake agreement for a 2GWh battery storage project in northern Italy, described as one of Europe’s largest.