Adopts €2.61 billion schemes to support agrivoltaic energy production and agro-industrial development
04 Oct 2023
In 2023, Italy introduced two aid schemes, totaling €2.61 billion, to support agrivoltaic energy production and agro-industrial development. Building on previous initiatives, these schemes aligns with the Common Agricultural Policy and emphasizes environmental protection, efficiency and circular economy principles.
The agro-industrial development component (€910 million, active until 31 December 2029), approved by the European Commission on 4 October 2023, aims to boost competitiveness, resilience, and digitalization in Italy’s agricultural sector by financing large strategic investments. Up to 500 companies engaged in agricultural processing and marketing can benefit from direct grants and subsidized financing, covering up to 60 per cent of eligible costs, with higher aid rates for small businesses and disadvantaged regions. The scheme administered by the National Development Agency (Invitalia), the initiative seeks to attract both national and foreign investors.
The agrivoltaic component (€1.7 billion, active until 31 December 2024), approved by the European Commission on 10 November 2023, promotes the integration of solar energy production with agriculture. The scheme aims to install 1.04 GW of new agrivoltaic capacity, ensuring an annual electricity generation of at least 1,300 GWh. Agricultural producers can receive support through investment grants (covering up to 40 per cent of eligible costs) and incentive tariffs (€560 million over 20 years), allocated through a competitive bidding process under a two-way contracts for difference (CfD) model.
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Type:
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Promotion and facilitation (Investment incentives)
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Industry:
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Not industry specific (SDG)
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Primary (Agriculture, forestry and fishing)
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Services (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply)
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Sources:
