Written by: Basant El-Farmawy
Italian authorities announced the allocation of 770.4 million euros under the "Agrisolare" program to support projects for installing solar panels on the roofs of agricultural and livestock buildings and facilities associated with agro-industrial processing. This funding comes within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, with 7,409 projects accepted, providing solar energy with a total capacity of approximately 505 megawatts.
Details of Grant and Project Distribution
The Energy Services Manager (GSE) in Italy took responsibility for evaluating and managing the submitted applications. Released data shows that the program witnessed wide turnout, as the total submitted applications reached 16,919, requesting funding worth 1.74 billion euros, which exceeds double the available budget for the project. Despite the approval of more than 7,000 projects, many applications failed to secure funding due to the exhaustion of the allocated budget or failure to meet the required technical conditions and standards.
Geographical Distribution of Projects
The Lombardy region topped the list in terms of funding volume, capturing 884 projects worth 145.2 million euros, representing 18.8% of the total budget, followed by the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna regions. In southern Italy, Sicily took the lead with 617 projects, followed by Puglia and Campania. The sizes of the supported projects varied, ranging from small and medium installations, with some major projects receiving grants exceeding one million euros.
Deadlines and Implementation Commitments
The program obliged winning companies and farms to start implementation operations according to a specific timetable; beneficiaries are required to complete the construction and installation of solar systems within 18 months from the date of funding allocation, with the possibility of extensions in justified cases. The final reporting for projects is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2028. This trend aims to enhance energy efficiency in the agricultural sector and reduce carbon emissions by relying more broadly on renewable sources in economic and agricultural activities.
