35 Solar PV Plants Repowered in Italy

ContourGlobal is revamping 35 of its solar PV plants in Italy, set to increase their capacity by 43% without using any additional land. The project will boost the company’s total solar PV capacity in the country to 113 MW, making a significant contribution to renewable energy generation.

Increasing Solar PV Capacity in Italy

As part of a major growth initiative, ContourGlobal is revamping and repowering 35 of its 71 solar PV plants. This ambitious project will increase their installed capacity by 43%—all within the existing land area. By installing more efficient solar modules and upgrading the technology, the company is strengthening its contribution to Italy’s renewable energy landscape.

Solar PV plant (Image: Collected)

ContourGlobal’s project will significantly boost its solar PV capacity in Italy, raising the company’s total to 113 MW—a notable increase in renewable power generation. According to Paola Agrati, ContourGlobal’s country manager for Italy, this modernization effort is a key part of the company’s strategy to enhance the efficiency and output of its existing solar PV plants.

The revamping involves installing higher-efficiency modules and advanced inverters, as well as shifting from fixed solar panels to solar tracking systems. These trackers allow the panels to follow the sun’s path, maximizing the electricity they produce. Thanks to this technological upgrade, the plants will generate significantly more power from the same installed capacity.

Repowering the Solar PV Plants

The project’s repowering phase is particularly innovative. As more efficient solar panels are installed, space is freed up at existing sites, allowing ContourGlobal to add new capacity without expanding the plants’ footprint. This additional capacity is expected to reach 17.9 MW, further increasing the company’s total solar output.

This added capacity will operate on a merchant basis, meaning it will not be tied to existing Feed-in Tariff (FiT) agreements. Instead, the additional power will be sold directly to the market, capitalizing on the improved efficiency of the upgraded solar PV plants.

Construction on the revamping project is advancing, despite minor initial delays. The first batch of PV modules, inverters, and structures arrived on schedule, with the second batch expected between September and November.

By early September, 19 solar PV plants were fully re-energized and two more were partially completed, bringing the total installed capacity to approximately 25 MWp.

The second phase of the project is scheduled for Q3 and Q4 of 2024. Some repowering activities will extend into 2025, depending on grid upgrades and work by the Transmission System Operator (TSO) and Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Sustainability and Circular Economy

Sustainability is a standout feature of this project. The revamping focuses not only on boosting energy capacity but also on minimizing environmental impact by adopting a circular economy model.

Discarded solar modules are processed through end-of-life recycling, which recovers 97% of their materials—including copper, silver, aluminum, glass, and crystalline silicon. Similarly, the old ground-mounted steel structures and inverters are recycled as they are replaced with more efficient single-axis trackers designed to follow the sun.

Contribution to Italy’s Energy Transition

ContourGlobal’s solar revamping project is a significant contribution to Italy’s ongoing energy transition. By increasing the efficiency and capacity of its PV plants, the company is delivering more clean energy to the country. Once completed, the project will enable ContourGlobal’s solar facilities to generate enough electricity to power more than 70,000 Italian homes annually.

This initiative, with its added merchant capacity and commitment to recycling 97% of discarded materials, represents a major step forward for Italy’s renewable energy sector.