Home » The Amazon and Engie agro photovoltaics in Sicily: from Mazara to Paternò

The Amazon and Engie agro photovoltaics in Sicily: from Mazara to Paternò

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PALERMO – Two new agro-photovoltaic plants in Mazara del Vallo and Paternò with a production capacity of 104MW. This is the first result of an agreement signed by Engie, a global energy group, with Amazon which will allow the production of renewable energy to power Amazon’s offices in Italy. The American group’s goal is to manage 100% of the business with clean energy by 2025. The project will also save the environment over 62,000 tons of CO2 every year, the equivalent that can be achieved by planting over 3.1 million trees. 80% of the energy produced will be destined for Amazon and 20% will be placed on the market, contributing to the energy needs of about 20,000 households.

The two agro-photovoltaic projects are added to ENGIE’s portfolio of plants in Italy which has a total of 23 renewable energy parks in Sicily (for a total of 142MW with the two new plants), Molise, Umbria, Lombardy, Basilicata, Puglia , Calabria and Campania.

«The Sicilian Region is ready to encourage all technological development initiatives aimed at renewable and innovative sources. And this is, because it allows the use of agricultural land and the development of sustainable energy, ”said the president of the Sicilian Region, Nello Musumeci, about the project.

«In the Parks of Paternò and Mazara del Vallo – explained Musumeci – which together occupy 180 hectares of land it will be possible to continue to cultivate and, therefore, not to subtract large areas of productive land from agriculture, as has happened for other initiatives in the past. They are early, native crops, officinal plants, what allows the farmer to be able to continue working. A land that we abandon – underlined Musumeci – is a land that we consign to the risk of hydrogeological instability or to rampant desertification ».

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Musumeci expressed “true compliments” to the initiative of Amazon and Engie which, he observed, “has been able to integrate agriculture with renewable energy in a virtuous way”. «I learned with great pleasure – added the president of the Sicilian Region – that 20% of the energy produced will be used to use the energy needs of tens of miles of users on the island. And this is also a useful return to our Region, together with the employment, in time, which will absorb hundreds of hands and intelligence ».

The initiative, Musumeci noted, “It has already been authorized and must continue in the wake of transparency, of uncontamination from any kind of external thrust, in the light of the sun, in all senses …”.

“I hope – concluded the governor – that this work can be an example for other Regions. Sicily in this case is at the forefront for innovative initiatives that cannot but deserve appreciation ».

Engie reaches altogether in Italy approximately 500MW of renewable energy, by 2025 the aim is to reach 1.2GW of green production. The project will have a further positive impact on the territory, thanks to the induced in terms of employment, during the construction works of the plants and the agreements between Engie Italia and the Municipalities, which will allow local administrations to implement environmental sustainability projects for a total value of approximately 3 million euros.

“We want to continue developing projects greenfield on the territory, both in the wind and agro-photovoltaic sectors, by investing in assets that are already operational and in authorized projects – says Damien Tèrouanne CEO of ENGIE Italia – combining them with the energy storage systems we produce “.

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In addition to Italy, Engie and Amazon they have signed agreements in the United States and France for a total of 650MW. On a technical level, the use of an innovative double-sided technology mounted on mono-axial trackers is envisaged, which allows to capture both direct light and that reflected from the surrounding land, allowing a better cultivation of the land.

In addition, large-sized panels will be used which reduce the surface occupied by favoring the combination between the production of electricity and agricultural crops. The financing, almost finalized, is based on project financing, Engie has appointed BNP Paribas, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Sociètè Gènèrale.

“Amazon is accelerating its investments in renewable energy to help achieve the Climate Pledge, our commitment to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2040 – declares Giorgio Busnelli, Director Consumer Goods of Amazon Italy and Spain – we are the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy in the world, with a production capacity of 8.5 GW and 206 active projects “.” A pioneering project that goes in the right direction, that of sustainable development “, underlined Vannia Gava, Undersecretary of State for the ecological transition.

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