RWE has commissioned its first Agri-PV project in Italy, marking a significant milestone in the integration of renewable energy generation with sustainable agriculture.
RWE said the two solar plants, Morcone and Acquafredda, located in the province of Benevento in Italy’s Campania region, have a combined capacity of 19.1 MWac and are expected to supply clean electricity to approximately 13,000 Italian households.
The Morcone project has a capacity of 9.8 MWac, while Acquafredda contributes 9.3 MWac. Across both sites, RWE has installed around 32,500 solar modules, creating one of Italy’s largest commercial Agri-PV deployments.
The projects use elevated tracker systems where solar panels are mounted on three-metre-high movable structures. This design increases photovoltaic energy production while allowing agricultural activities to continue underneath the panels. Compared with conventional ground-mounted solar farms, the elevated structures optimize land use by preserving more agricultural space.
The Agri-PV installations are designed to improve farming conditions by reducing excessive solar radiation during the summer, helping lower thermal stress on crops and reducing water consumption. The solar panels also provide protection from hail, frost and heavy rainfall, improving crop resilience.
Local farmers will continue to manage agricultural operations, including planting and harvesting, in consultation with landowners. Crops cultivated beneath the panels include alfalfa, oats, broad beans, rosemary, chamomile and other medicinal herbs, demonstrating the compatibility of renewable energy with traditional farming.
To evaluate the long-term environmental impact of the projects, RWE has launched a three-year agro-environmental monitoring programme in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II. The research will assess soil quality, crop performance, biodiversity, pollinator populations, microbial diversity, enzymatic activity, spontaneous vegetation and ecosystem services before and after installation. The initiative supports RWE’s commitment to achieving a net positive biodiversity impact by 2030.
RWE is also accelerating its Agri-PV expansion across Italy. The company has begun constructing an additional 38.2 MWac of Agri-PV capacity using around 50,000 solar modules. The new portfolio includes Acquafredda 2 (11.7 MWac) in Campania, Cave (9 MWac) in Calabria, Enna (9.5 MWac) and Carcitella (8 MWac) in Sicily. These projects are scheduled for commissioning in 2026 and are expected to provide renewable electricity to more than 20,000 Italian households. Sheep grazing beneath the elevated panels is also planned alongside crop cultivation, further enhancing dual land use.
RWE continues to strengthen its position in Italy’s renewable energy market through an integrated approach covering project development, construction, operation and power marketing. The company currently operates 17 onshore wind farms together with its solar assets, delivering a combined renewable generation capacity of 608 MW, sufficient to supply more than 500,000 Italian households with green electricity. Beyond its Agri-PV investments, RWE is also constructing two new onshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 92 MW, further expanding its renewable energy footprint in Italy.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
