Next2Sun has established a new subsidiary in Italy. Going forward, Next2Sun Italia will be responsible for developing projects using vertically mounted bifacial solar modules for dual use of agricultural land in Italy. Its primary tasks will include on-site coordination, support for project development and building long-term partnerships with farms, energy suppliers and local authorities.
Regulations favour agri-PV
Italy offers particularly favourable conditions for Next2Sun's vertical agri-PV technology, the company says, explaining its move south. Legislation in recent years has created clear, investment-friendly structures that promote the combination of agriculture and photovoltaics. In Italy, the construction of solar installations on agricultural land is permitted exclusively in the form of agri-PV. The government in Rome even actively supports this form of dual land use. This makes Italy's regulatory framework one of the most attractive in Europe – a compelling factor for the Next2Sun Group's expansion.
Three projects already under way
The new subsidiary in Bolzano is starting with three projects already under construction. Near Venice, a 1 MW agri-PV park is being built and combined with conventional farming – the land will be used to harvest not only electricity but also soya. A second project, also in the Venice region, with a capacity of 800 kW, is being combined with flower cultivation. A further, smaller 100 kW installation, likewise dedicated to flower growing, is being built in Emilia-Romagna.
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Enormous potential for agri-PV in Italy
The first projects demonstrate how well Next2Sun's vertical agri-PV system fits the country's regulatory requirements: because only part of the agricultural land is built over, farming operations are fully maintained and agricultural machinery can be used with virtually no restrictions. At the same time, biodiversity is promoted. "With this establishment, we are opening a new chapter in our European growth story," says Sascha Krause-Tünker, Managing Director of Next2Sun Italia. "Italy has excellent regulatory guardrails and enormous potential for agri-PV. We are excited to be actively helping shape this opportunity on the ground. With our Italian subsidiary, we are driving the energy transition where conditions are most promising," he emphasises. (su)
