CAMPOBASSO – Photovoltaic panels for the production of solar energy can no longer be installed on the ground in agricultural areas. The stop, which came by decree of the Council of Ministers, after months of protests and mobilizations by Coldiretti farmers, finally puts an end to speculation. “Save” thousands of hectares of fertile land which in recent years has become, driven by the race for decarbonisation and incentives, the object of the desires of hedge funds and energy players who, also thanks to the difficulties of agricultural businesses, are focusing on business of renewable energy to generate profits.
Coldiretti’s historic battle against soil-eating panels that began years ago has reached a turning point that we can define as historic. “Coldiretti is absolutely not against renewable sources as demonstrated by the strong participation in the PNRR measure for photovoltaic systems on the roofs of stables and farmhouses. There are hundreds of small and medium-sized agricultural companies that, in recent months, have invested and benefited from PNRR funds to install panels on the roofs of company buildings which allow on the one hand the production of clean, sustainable energy, without affecting the availability of arable land and on the other to cut energy costs – explains Claudio Papa, President of Coldiretti Molise – The theme of renewable sources has been at the center of our demands in recent years with the large mobilizations in which thousands of farmers have participated. The Agriculture Decree is a first important response to the requests of farmers who are facing a very delicate phase between cost increases, collapse in prices of agricultural products, inflation and upheavals on the markets. It was important to stop dangerous speculation. This objective has been achieved.”
Coldiretti Molise has repeatedly denounced the assault on the Molise countryside by speculative funds and energy companies who already have hundreds of projects for new solar parks ready, both approved and to be approved, from Lower Molise to the Piana di Venafro, from the Harm to the internal areas of Molise, also putting excellent productions at risk as well as disfiguring the landscape, in a region which, like ours, also focuses on tourism for an economic recovery of the territory.
Projects that raised the revolt of citizens who also met in committees and of some administrations. Molise’s agriculture is very often swallowed up by the profits ensured by energy companies for the rental or purchase of land, which exploit the fragility of a sector that is not always able to guarantee an adequate level of income and economic sustainability for businesses.
The stop to ground-based photovoltaics also applies to the extensions of already existing solar fields (but not to those already approved) while solar energy can be produced, alternatively, only through the technology of raised-from-the-ground Agrivoltaic which, on the contrary of the classic panels, allow the cohabitation between agricultural activity and the production of renewable energy. The block on ground-based photovoltaics does not mean stopping solar energy production. In fact, a series of exemptions are foreseen which allow the installation of Agrivoltaic systems raised from the ground, financed by the PNRR to achieve the European objectives set by 2030, in quarries, mines, industrial areas, in areas under concession to Ferrovie dello Stato and airport concessionaires.
