According to the project developer, it will be one of the largest integrated advanced agrivoltaic projects in Italy.
Four energy investors together with several local agricultural entrepreneurs are working on an 80 MW agrivoltaic project in Mottola, in the province of Taranto.
The project, composed of several parts, aims to be an advanced agrivoltaic project, with panels installed at 3.5-5 metres. It will host cultivations carried out by the owners of the land themselves. The project could be put into operation during the summer of 2026, Tommaso De Crescenzo, CEO of Mottola Energia.
“The opening of the construction sites should take place between June and August 2025. It will take 12 months to complete them,” said De Crescenzo, adding that the project will see existing crops and some new crops.
An agricultural society will change the types of crops, from vineyards to intensive olive groves, while arable land will remain. Vineyards and horticulture will also be added. The agricultural activity includes monitoring stations for irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, weather stations and systems to control fruit ripening and the presence of parasites.
“There will be two types of structures. Systems with trackers with a hub height of 3.5 meters and a distance between one tracker and another of 5 metres. In this case we will use 690 watt panels. While the other system includes pergolas that will cover the vegetable gardens, 510 watt panels with a distance between pillars of between 5 and 6 metres, but with greater coverage between panels".
Mottola Energia is developing seven projects in total, three of 10 MW for the German GreenTech group , two of 10 MW for the Irish company Alternus and two projects for the Swiss Axpo for a total of 15 MW. Another developer is developing part of the project for a fourth client. According to the project developer, the overall investment would be around 80 billion euros.
“The land owners will grant a surface right for 30+10 years and the energy companies will create a relationship with the owners. The management method of the new entity is still being defined,” said De Crescenzo.
The CEO of Mottola Energia did not want to reveal the exact amount of the annual fees for renting the land, but said that a hectare in the region yields between 2 and 3.5 thousand euros per year.
“We interacted with the local administration to which the project was presented. We closed the technical table with Enel and Terna after three years. The table gave approval on the land where the future substation will be built,” said De Crescenzo.
The company has not spoken to the local population directly, but expects an agreement with the local authorities to support the municipality's activities, with 2-3% of the income from the projects which will then be redistributed across the territory as mitigation works.
“There is openness on our part: we want to collaborate with the municipality to define
compensation measures, such as public works or management of public green areas. They have not yet been defined, but we should do so in the next two or three months."
According to De Crescenzo, the project could decrease energy prices for residents of the area in two ways. First, because the transition from PUN to zonal prices should reward the areas with the greatest diffusion of renewables. Secondly, because the companies that own the plants could offer special promotions to the inhabitants of the area, to create a relationship and reduce any local resistance.
The Business Network will then promote a social garden project that will serve the municipality of Mottola. 10% of the entire area, approximately 5 hectares, will be allocated for the social gardens.
The plants are located within 3 kilometers of production areas. “So we respect the parameters of the Solar Belt and therefore of the Simplifications decree, therefore they are suitable areas. These are innovative plants that could directly access the public incentives of the Pnrr".
