RWE has strengthened its position in Italy’s renewable energy market after securing three new advanced Agri-PV projects in the latest Italian Resilience and Recovery Plan (PNRR) auction. The scheme provides a contract-for-difference tariff and offers up to 40% return on investment for advanced agrivoltaic systems.
This win follows RWE’s success in last year’s PNRR tender, where two Agri-PV projects were awarded and are currently nearing completion. The three newly secured projects have a combined capacity of 30.2 MWac and are located across southern Italy:
- Acquafredda 2 (11.7 MWac) – Campania
- Enna Piscopo (9.5 MWac) – Sicily
- Cave (9 MWac) – Calabria
Construction of approximately 47,000 solar modules is expected to start in the coming weeks, with commissioning planned for 2026.
Elevated Agrivoltaics to Enhance Land Use and Agricultural Productivity
The projects will adopt elevated mounting structures to enable agricultural activity beneath the panels. Two project sites will use high tracker structures with movable axes, while the third will use a high fixed-tilt structure suitable for pastoral land use.
Under this integrated approach, sheep grazing and crop cultivation will take place below the solar installations, enhancing agricultural yield and optimising land use. The elevated modules will also protect crops from hail, frost, drought and heavy rainfall. RWE will monitor system performance and collect meteorological and agricultural data to further advance agrivoltaic technology.
Leadership Insight
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said the timing of the award is ideal:
“This is great timing. Shortly before the completion of our two Agri-PV projects from last year’s auction, we now have the green light to start construction on three more projects using this innovative technology. Italy is taking the lead in Agri-PV because land is a scarce resource that must be used responsibly and efficiently. We look forward to continuing to support Italy’s energy targets.”
RWE Renewables Italia: Strengthening Its Role in the Italian Market
RWE remains a major player in Italy’s renewables sector, following an integrated approach encompassing development, construction, operation and energy marketing.
The company currently operates 17 onshore wind farms with a combined installed capacity of 598 MW, supplying clean energy to more than 500,000 households annually. In addition to its first commercial-scale Agri-PV facilities—Morcone (9.8 MWac) and Acquafredda (9.3 MWac) in Campania—RWE is constructing two new onshore wind farms: the 47 MW Serra Palino project in Apulia and the 45 MW Venusia project in Basilicata.
With its latest Agri-PV tender wins, RWE further reinforces its contribution to Italy’s renewable energy transition.
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