Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while maintaining her commitment to green energy, has implemented restrictions on solar panel installations on farmland.
She believes this move is necessary to protect Italy’s “food sovereignty.” However, this decision has sparked debate among farmers and solar energy experts.
Emergency Decree Bans Ground-Mounted Solar Panels on Agricultural Land
The government recently issued an emergency decree banning ground-mounted solar panels on land designated for agriculture. Instead, it mandates more expensive elevated installations, allowing cultivation underneath.
Meloni defends the decree as a “pragmatic measure” correcting “ideological eco-follies.”
Concerns Raised Over Italy’s Renewable Energy Goals
Green energy advocates argue that these restrictions jeopardize Italy’s ability to achieve its international commitment of 80GW of solar capacity by 2030.
Paolo Rocco Viscontini, president of Italia Solare, highlights the paradox of hindering the expansion of solar energy, currently the cheapest source of energy.
Renewable energy experts warn that the elevated “agri-voltaic” panels mandated by the decree will be 20% to 40% more expensive to install than traditional ones, impacting the sector’s competitiveness.
Furthermore, the decree prevents farmers from leasing land to solar developers, requiring them to invest directly in projects on their properties. This restriction raises concerns about the feasibility of timely energy transition, as pointed out by Patrizio Donati, co-founder of solar power start-up Terrawatt.
Farmers Divided on the Issue
The initiative, championed by agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida, has received mixed reactions from farmers. While some fear the impact of solar installations on agricultural production, others see it as a solution for utilizing unused land, particularly in areas with limited irrigation.
Emanuele Bocchicchio, a farmer in Basilicata, believes solar panels offer a way to generate income from fallow land due to harsh weather conditions and rising cultivation costs.
He argues that farmers should have more freedom to decide how to utilize their unirrigated land.
Camillo Rossi, a lawyer who leased half of his family’s unirrigated land for solar power generation, also sees the benefits. He emphasizes that while the land is visually appealing, it’s not suitable for agriculture due to lack of irrigation.
The Path Forward: Finding Common Ground
Italia Solare estimates that only 1% of fallow farmland is needed to meet Italy’s 2030 solar targets. However, the new rules could impede progress. While the influential agribusiness lobby Coldiretti supports the ban, it also calls for increased investment in irrigation to maximize the productive potential of agricultural land.
The debate continues as Italy seeks to balance its agricultural heritage with the urgent need for renewable energy sources.