OfChiara Evangelista
The panels cover an area of 330 thousand square meters. «This way the exhibition space is self-sufficient»
In size it is comparable to 45 football fields. A coverage equal to 330 thousand square meters. It was presented Thursday at Fiera Milano the largest photovoltaic system in Italy built on the roof. Not only that: the work is among the top ten in the world for size and power. The infrastructure, built in the pavilions of the Fiera Milano exhibition center in Rho, is already in operation and will be used to produce energy to power the space dedicated to major events.
To create the system the A2A group and Fiera Foundation, through a joint venture, have created a new company: Fair Renew. Its deed of incorporation dates back to 31 July 2018. From that moment on, the objective of creating photovoltaics was achieved through three phases. The first was achieved in 2022 with the birth of the plant. In the subsequent stages we went to increasingly increase the power and size of the infrastructure.
It is expected that photovoltaics will be able to produce around 22 GWh of energy per year and that the use of solar sources, instead of fossil resources, will allow avoid approximately 10 thousand tons of carbon dioxide. «We are in a geographical area where wind power cannot be exploited, much less hydroelectric. The only renewables that can be used are solar ones. Since there is a strong anthropization, we can think of using the roofs”, he explained Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of A2A. «The advantage of having installed the panels above the pavilions is that this system does not impact the Milan electricity distribution network in which we are making investments to accelerate the decarbonisation process. Fiera Milano produces the energy it consumes. This means that the exhibition space is self-sufficient and autonomous and that the energy produced by the panels does not stress the city’s grid”.
Photovoltaics also represents a focal point in view of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. «It will allow make the energy management of Olympic competitions almost autonomous that will take place on these platforms, namely speed skating and women’s ice hockey,” he said Enrico Pazzali, president of the Fiera Milano Foundation, underlining that the use of renewables is a factor that companies are required to position themselves in the rankings. «It is the most sustainable exhibition facility in our country and this makes it attractive for hosting those international events that require sustainability as a prerequisite».
Not only environmental but also economic sustainability. This is the aspect on which the governor of the Region has placed emphasis Attilio Fontana, during his speech to present the system. «With this project we are going in the right direction. Sustainability must be seen not as a duty but as an opportunity. The environmental, economic and social ones must coexist. Otherwise difficulties will arise.”
And the intervention was focused precisely on the importance of the social factor and of leaving no one behind Francesco Conci, CEO and general manager of Fiera Milano. «Part of our objectives are aimed at those who work in the company. Among the actions we envisage are the extension of the insurance policy, increasing training courses and encouraging female staff to reach managerial positions”.
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May 17, 2024
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