Italy curbs solar panels on agricultural land, some warn it may raise power costs

In Italy, where food is deeply intertwined with the nation’s cultural identity, a new government proposal may require Italians to pay more on their energy bills in order to support the farms that make the nation’s world-renowned culinary scene possible. Rome is attempting to place restrictions on the installation of solar panels in areas designated as agricultural land in a move that energy companies say will drive up electricity costs for consumers.

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The warning of higher energy prices stems from concerns that the new limitations will hinder the installation of large-scale solar farms. Italy already faces a shortage of large solar farms, which contributes to increased renewable energy costs across the country. Power generated from larger solar installations costs a third of what electricity from residential rooftop systems charge. Those large installations can also produce triple the energy of a rooftop plant with the same amount of investment.

Approximately 42% of Italy’s land is classified as agricultural land. This potentially limits the available space for more expansive solar energy infrastructure. This raised concerns among environmentalists, who fear that the new regulations could jeopardize Italy’s 2030 emission reduction goals.

Solar is one of Italy’s largest sources of renewable power. It supplies about 10% of the nation’s total electricity. Green energy advocates worry the new limitations on solar expansion will cause the country to fall short of producing the necessary power from clean sources that it needs in order to retire coal plants in the next decade. However, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said the government remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint and this plan will not impact those emissions targets.

The proposed regulations still allow for the installation of solar panels over agricultural fields and vineyards, a practice known as dual-use solar. This approach enables the land to serve multiple purposes by generating power during periods of sunlight while allowing crops to continue growing.