Swiss energy company MET Group has commissioned its first agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) project in Italy, a 10-megawatt (MW) solar power plant located in Ferrera Erbognone, in the country’s northern rice-growing region, the company said on Tuesday.
The plant, which spans 16 hectares and includes 16,000 solar panels, is expected to produce approximately 15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, enough to power around 6,000 households.
Construction began in July 2024, with EPC services delivered by CMC Europe Italy. The electricity generated will be offtaken by MET Energia Italia, a subsidiary of MET Group.
“We are delighted with this important milestone in growing our presence in Italy,” said Clive Turton, executive chairman of MET Group’s Green Assets division. “What pleases me most is that this solar park exemplifies how MET places emphasis on responsible planning and management of natural resources during construction. Within this context, responsible water management is a priority, guaranteeing that water use is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial.”
As part of the project’s environmental integration, around 2,800 plants will be cultivated in a 50-metre mitigation zone around the facility to enhance biodiversity.
The solar park is owned by Keppel MET Renewables, a 50:50 joint venture between MET Group and Singapore-based Keppel.
Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel’s Infrastructure Division and MET board member, said the project marked a strategic milestone for the company. “The completion of our first grid-scale Agri-PV project in Western Europe is proof of Keppel’s ability to turn strategy into action. The Keppel-MET joint venture also exemplifies our asset-light, capital-efficient model – scalable across Europe and enhancing earnings visibility for Keppel.”
MET Group said the commissioning of the Ferrera Erbognone plant is part of its broader renewables strategy. The company currently operates 424MW of solar and wind assets across Europe and has a development pipeline exceeding 1 gigawatt (GW).
