ACCIONA Energía has secured 151 MW of solar capacity in Italy’s latest FERX public renewable energy auction and will develop two new photovoltaic plants in Sicily as part of the award.
The two projects, Panbianco with a capacity of 100.8 MWp and Benante with 50.2 MWp, will be located in the municipality of Lentini in the Siracusa province. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with commercial operation expected by the end of 2027.
Once operational, the Panbianco and Benante solar plants are expected to generate approximately 277.5 GWh of electricity annually. This output will be sufficient to meet the power needs of more than 55,000 people and will help avoid over 125,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, an impact comparable to removing nearly 50,000 internal combustion engine vehicles from the road.
The FERX mechanism is Italy’s long-term Contracts for Difference system, which provides price stability for renewable energy projects over a 20-year period. The scheme is designed to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies while offering financial certainty to developers and investors, supporting Italy’s broader decarbonization goals.
ACCIONA has maintained a strong presence in Italy for more than 25 years, primarily through its water and construction businesses. Key projects include sections of the Apulia sanitation system, the Fuente Presidiana drinking water treatment plant, and the breakwater at the Port of Ravenna.
In the renewable energy sector, ACCIONA Energía currently operates 156 MW of installed capacity across four wind farms in Italy, located in Abruzzo, Calabria, and Sicily. The new solar projects further strengthen the company’s renewable energy portfolio in the country and reinforce its commitment to supporting Italy’s clean energy transition.
