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The largest solar park in Northern Italy, created by Enel Green Power, is in operation in Trino (Vercelli). A symbolic evolution of energy production: until 1987 the area hosted one of the four second generation nuclear power plants active in the national territory, and was then home to the first combined cycle power plant in the country. Next to the new photovoltaic system, the cooling towers of the old thermoelectric plant, closed in 2013, are still visible.
The solar park has a power of approximately 87 MW and will produce approximately 130 GWh each year through 160 thousand panels, equal to the energy needs of approximately 47 thousand families, avoiding the emission of 56 thousand tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and the use of 29 million meters cubes of gas.
Storage system
The plant uses bifacial photovoltaic modules and is integrated with a lithium-ion battery storage system with a power of 25 MW and a storage capacity of 100 MWh that will ensure the adequacy of the electrical system and provide auxiliary services to the grid. A further, larger storage system will soon be added to the site.
Shared facility
Citizens contributed to the financing of the work through the “Scelta renewable” crowdfunding campaign launched in 2022 by Enel Green Power. The broad participation made it possible to reach and greatly exceed the fundraising objective, with a final participation equal to 150% of the target that had been initially set. With the entry into service of the plant, the citizens who have joined the initiative will receive a return on the capital invested.
Enel Green Power will carry out a series of interventions in the area surrounding the solar park, including reforestation and building-architectural recovery works on some historic buildings located in Borgo Leri-Cavour, where the summer residence of Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour.
