During the month of October, the initiation and construction of two new plants confirms our continued commitment to Italy’s energy transition. In Molise, we commissioned the wind farm in Castelmauro, consisting of seven wind turbines of 4.2 MW each, with a total capacity of 29.4 MW. In Piedmont, we started construction on one of the largest “sun factories” in Northern Italy.
The new solar park will be located in the province of Vercelli, in the municipality of Trino, and will cover an area of 130 hectares with nearly 160,000 photovoltaic modules with a total capacity of 86 MW.
At the end of construction, which officially began on October 14 in the area next to the former “Galileo Ferraris” power plant, a true state-of-the-art center for the production of solar energy will come to life. Once fully operational, the plant will be able to supply the grid with approximately 130 GWh each year, while preventing the release of about 56,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and the use of 29 million cubic meters of gas. Instead, it will be replaced completely with renewable, clean and safe energy thanks in part to the integration of a 25 MW electrochemical storage system, which will further contribute to the proper functioning of the electricity system.
“The start of construction on this photovoltaic system marks another step forward in our renewable growth strategy in Italy,” said Eleonora Petrarca, Head of Business Development Italy at Enel Green Power. “This project, which is based on constructive and positive dialogue with the local community, will allow Trino to once again be a key player in energy production by adopting a sustainable and forward-looking approach, in line with national, European, and global emission reduction and decarbonization targets.”
In addition, with the aim of safeguarding the socio-cultural heritage of the area, the site includes architectural and functional restoration work that will extend to some historic buildings in in the town of Leri Cavour, located in the area next to where the park will be built, and restoration work on a section of the historic road linking the hamlets of Leri Cavour and Cascina Colombara.
From solar energy to wind energy: the new Enel Green Power wind farm put into operation in the province of Campobasso, between the municipalities of Castelmauro and Roccavivara, will have an annual production capacity of 70 GWh, preventing the release of about 30,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and simultaneously saving 15 million cubic meters of gas which will be replaced completely by renewable, clean and locally produced energy.
“With the entry into operation of the Castelmauro wind farm, we are making a concrete contribution to the achievement of Italy’s decarbonization objectives, also thanks to the collaboration with local institutions and the territory,” said Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power, on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony held on October 27. “This, and the other new renewable plants we intend to build in Italy, will help accelerate the energy transition and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, to the benefit of the environment, people, and the economy.”
Trino and Castelmauro are therefore strategic projects for Italy, because they foster an even more widespread distribution of renewable energy and contribute to the energy independence and the process of decarbonization of our country but also to the sustainable and economic growth with transversal benefits in all regions.