The advancement of agrivoltaics in Italy is transforming the photovoltaic sector towards a model where solar energy generation and agricultural activities are strategically integrated. This shift is largely due to ministerial regulations like the Agriculture Decree, along with regional clarifications on suitable areas for solar installations.

Paolo Beltrami, an agronomist, asserts that «agrivoltaics in Italy is becoming the standard for ground-mounted photovoltaics,» highlighting how regulations are attracting both large investors and farmers focused on self-consumption.

«The ministerial legislation of the Agriculture Decree and regional clarifications on suitable areas are driving all investors interested in grid connection towards agrivoltaics. At the same time, incentives for energy communities and self-consumption are encouraging small-scale investors, such as farmers, to advance with agrivoltaic plants,» he adds in diialogue with Energía Estratégica España.

While the current installed capacity of agrivoltaics stands at 250 MW, from two large plants in Sicily and scattered pilot projects across the country, Beltrami expects that around 2.5 GW will be built between 2025 and the first half of 2026, thanks to funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Italy has set a goal of reaching 1 GW of installed capacity in agrivoltaic systems by 2030. However, the specialist projects that this target will be significantly exceeded, with up to 3 GW by the end of the decade. It’s worth noting that according to a survey conducted by Energía Estratégica España, 6,859.4 MW of agrivoltaics entered the environmental processing phase in the first six months of 2024, reflecting a strong interest in the technology.

Impact of the Agriculture Decree

The enactment of the Agrivoltaic Decree has been key in boosting the sector, as the specialist highlights, since it has incentivized the industry to research the technology, bringing together agronomists, farmers, landowners, investors, and policymakers in a working group, and introducing «new ways to support farmers’ income.»

«The decree is creating the opportunity to showcase technology and know-how. There will be 5 years to understand the real viability of the agrivoltaic combination. Not all projects will work, and not all agricultural management will prove viable. Incorrect projects will be costly for owners,» says Beltrami.

However, he warns that there are aspects that need improvement, pointing out that the decree resembles a large research and development project without a proper experimental design. «An additional effort will be required to convert the data produced chaotically into a useful form. All owners are asked to collect economic and environmental data. The cost falls on the plant owners, who have no interest in compiling it. The lessons learned from the decree should be used in 5 years to shape a new Common Agricultural Policy for the European Union,» he elaborates.

The interest in this type of technology from the sector is high; however, Beltrami warns that one of the main challenges farmers face is the difficulty in securing the liquidity necessary to finance their projects.

He also points out that the economic aspects of these plants are constantly recalculated due to land costs and the relationship between land and energy prices.