The Neoen Italy 24.7 MWp trio solar project is a collection of three photovoltaic farms developed by French independent renewable energy producer Neoen across the northern regions of Lombardy and Marche, representing the company’s first foray into the Italian solar market. One of the Lombardy sites, the 7.4 MWp Arena Po solar farm, began injecting electricity into the national grid at the start of 2026 and has since reached full operational status, generating an estimated 11.9 GWh of clean electricity annually and avoiding approximately 3,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. The project is advancing alongside a much larger wave of renewable construction across Italy, including RWE’s recently launched Serra Giannina wind farm in Potenza under Italy’s FER-X auction programme, highlighting how both international utilities and independent power producers are accelerating investment across the country’s wind and solar sectors simultaneously.

Data Centre Deals Underpin the Broader Italian Expansion

The Arena Po farm forms part of a broader 53 MW ten-year power purchase agreement signed between Neoen and global digital infrastructure company Equinix in November 2024, covering seven new solar projects across northern Italy strategically located near Equinix’s data centres in Milan and Genoa. The deal marks the first PPA between the two companies in Italy and their fifth collaboration across Europe, bringing combined contracted capacity on the continent to 210 MW. Neoen’s total operating and under-construction capacity in Italy has now reached 120 MW, backed by a 2.3 GW development pipeline.

Project Overview

• Project Name: Neoen Italy Trio Solar Projects (including Arena Po, Lombardy)
• Location: Lombardy (two farms: 8 MWp and 7.6 MWp) and Marche (9.1 MWp), northern and central Italy
• Developer / Owner: Neoen S.A. (100% ownership retained)
• Total Cost / Value: Not disclosed
• Scale / Capacity: 24.7 MWp combined (three solar farms); Arena Po site is 7.4 MWp
• Construction Start: December 2023
• Expected Completion: Commissioned for early 2025; Arena Po reached full operation at start of 2026
• Funding / Financing: Corporate balance sheet; revenue partially secured via a 53 MW ten-year PPA with Equinix (signed November 2024)
• Current Status: Arena Po (Lombardy) fully operational as of early 2026; status of Marche site not separately confirmed
• Key Milestone: Inauguration of Arena Po as Neoen’s first ever operational solar farm in Italy, with electricity now flowing to Equinix data centres in Milan and Genoa

Project Team

• Neoen S.A. — Developer, Owner and Asset Operator
• Intec Energy Solutions — EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) Contractor
• Equinix — Offtaker under 53 MW ten-year PPA covering seven northern Italy solar projects
• Daniele Lucchi — Director of Project Development, Neoen Italy
• Xavier Barbaro — Chairman and CEO, Neoen S.A.
• Louis de Sambucy — Regional CEO Europe, Neoen
• Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) — Regulatory and permitting authority
• Terna S.p.A. — National grid operator responsible for electricity injection and connection

Reported 4th January 2024: Neoen has begun the development of three solar farm projects in Italy that will increase the total power generation capacity in the country to 24.7 MWp.

This project will be the French renewables company‘s first endeavor in the Italian photovoltaic (PV) sector and it will retain 100% ownership of the projects. This portrays Neoen’s ambition to become a major player and contributor in the renewable sector in Italy, distinguishing it from its competitors.

All three projects are expected to start commercial operations at the beginning of 2025. Of the three projects, two (6 MWp and 7.6 MWp), respectively, will be built in the northern region of Lombardy and a 9.1 MW solar farm in the eastern region of Italy in Marche.

The turnkey contract for the construction has been awarded to Intec Energy Solutions as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. When fully operational, the three solar farms will generate electricity sufficient to power over 9000 homes annually while offsetting 37,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The majority of the electricity generated will be sold through power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the rest of the electricity being sold on the general whole sale market.

Also read: Neoen starts construction on 56.4-MW battery in Finland

The French company says that since its inception in 2021, it has been developing several solar and energy storage projects in Italy, the majority of which are strategically located in areas selected by the government. This implies fast-track development, which will start construction in the next 12 to 16 months.

The completion of the projects will help the government achieve its target of having 40% of electricity consumption come from renewable energy sources by 2030.

Neoen Italy’s Director of Project Development, Daniele Lucchi highlights that with a portfolio of over 50 projects currently under development across 5 different regions, this shows the company’s ambition to rapidly expand its presence in Italy, as it has in all the countries where we operate.