Axpo Starts Construction on 20 MWp Solar Project in Italy

Swiss energy trader and power producer Axpo Holding AG has started building a 20-MWp solar farm in northern Italy, the company said in an announcement on Tuesday.

It said that the Parco Molini ground-mounted solar farm will feature close to 34,500 modules spread across 16 hectares (39.5 acres) on non-agricultural land. The project site is situated in Manzano, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.

Axpo acquired the Parco Molini project in ready-to-build stage from Italian utility-scale solar developer Semesteb in early December 2023.

The Swiss energy firm has opted for a power purchase agreement (PPA) as the off-take model for this project. The search for the buyer of Parco Molini’s production output, estimated at more than 25 GWh per year, is currently ongoing, Axpo said.

Axpo’s work in the municipality of Manzano will also include setting up an energy community around a 500-kWp solar power system. This array, located in the town’s industrial area, will supply electricity to the local community under a collective self-consumption scheme.

Axpo will carry out the project with Semesteb under an agreement with the local authorities as part of compensatory measures for Parco Molini and Semesteb’s 20-MWp Casali Birri solar farm.

“The Parco Molini project is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve renewable energy capacity in Italy. We’re committed to contributing to the local community's energy needs and supporting Italy's transition to sustainable energy,” commented Antoine Millioud, head of Axpo’s Solar Division.