Agrisolar Park: the first partial list published of recipients eligible for funding with funds to NPR M2C1-I.2.2

Up to 80% non-refundable grants for photovoltaics on farm building roofs.

On 18th December 2023, a ministerial decree was issued. It contained a first partial list of  entities eligible for support for investments in production facilities in the agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial sector pertaining to the implementation of photovoltaic systems, together with the upgrading of buildings for the purpose of improving the energy efficiency of facilities. 

‍Resources earmarked for financing the aforementioned interventions total €1,500 million from NRP funds. Following the outcomes of 2022, residual resources now stand at around €1 billion.

‍Investment support takes the form of the provision of non-repayable grants of up to 80% within the limits of the grants available as stipulated in the Decree.

Recipients include:

• Farms engaged in primary agricultural production;
• Farms engaged in the processing of agricultural products;
• Farms engaged in the processing of agricultural products into non-agricultural products.

The first Call, published in August 2022, resulted in 6,358 admitted beneficiaries with the total amount of resources allocated equalling €438,133,850.466. The second Call, however, published in July 2023, saw a partial total of 2,959 admitted beneficiaries with the total amount of resources allocated equalling €351,312,009.01.

Therefore, the overall number of beneficiaries currently eligible for the grant equals 9,317, for a total amount of allocated resources of €789,445,859.476.

The new aid scheme for the efficiency and solarization of agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial buildings is a significant step towards the energy sustainability of the sector and, at the same time, an opportunity to lower production expenses to benefit the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises.

SOUTHENERGY AND THE “PARCO AGRISOLARE” MEASURE

There are numerous entrepreneurs who, also during this second year of the Measure, have relied on Southenergy and will now finally be able to benefit from “Parco Agrisolare” grants in order to increase the strategic potential of their enterprises. Thus, starting an energy transition path led by a leading PV technical partner with 15 years of consolidated experience in the renewables sector under its belt.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR COMPANY’S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE POTENTIAL.

Whether an “Parco Agrisolare” grant already received or by virtue of being included in the next round of grants, we can find the best technical solution specific to your business. Offering you specialised technical support in the construction and operation of “self-made” photovoltaic power and dedicated maintenance services.

WHAT IS THE “PARCO AGRISOLARE” CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2023

The NRP Measure M2C1-I.2.2 “Parco Agrisolare” provides for the selection and financing of interventions that consist in the purchase and installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of buildings, instrumental to the activity of beneficiary enterprises.

Together with the construction of the photovoltaic system, expenses related to the installation of electrical energy storage systems and/or electrical recharging devices for sustainable mobility and agricultural
machinery are also considered eligible (subject to the limits imposed by the decree).

Together with these activities, one or more building upgrades may be carried out for the purpose of improving the energy efficiency of facilities such as:

• The removal and disposal of asbestos from roofs

• The implementation of thermal insulation of roofs

• and/or the implementation of an aeration system.

“PARCO AGRISOLARE” PURPOSES AND RESOURCES 2023

Through the provision of a grant of up to 80%, the investment pursues the climate-environmental objective of contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation through the promotion of sustainable energy and energy efficiency. 

The resources earmarked for financing the aforementioned interventions amount to €1.500 million from NRP funds.

As a result of the December 2022 – March 2023 – July 2023 directorial decree, there are residual resources of € 997.655.895,925:

• € 697.655.895,925 million: interventions in primary agricultural production, within the limits of self-consumption;
• € 150 million: interventions in the sector of processing agricultural products;
• € 75 million: interventions in the sector of processing agricultural products into non-agricultural products;
• € 75 million: interventions in the field of primary agricultural production – no self-consumption constraint.         

An amount equal to at least 40% of the aforementioned resources is earmarked for financing projects to be implemented in the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily.

Facilities are granted according to an over-the-counter procedure, within the limits of available financial resources.

“PARCO AGRISOLARE”: THE MAIN NEW FEATURES FOR 2023

Among the main new features of the new 2023 announcement:

• An increase in the maximum allowable aid intensity;

• Doubling the maximum installable power from 500 kW/p to 1.000 kW/p;

• Doubling the maximum eligible expenditure for storage systems up to € 100.000;

• Doubling the maximum eligible expenditure for charging devices to € 30.000;

• Introduction of the new case of shared self-consumption;

• Participation of enterprises in aggregate form;

• Maximum expenditure per beneficiary of € 2.330.000.

SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS AND EXECUTION OF WORK

Applications for the 2023 grant, drafted in accordance with the instructions of the Operating Regulations, were submitted during the period September 12, 2023 to October 12, 2023, through the IT platform and clearly following the relevant preparation and submission of detailed registry and technical/design documentation (among others, by way of example, technical reports certified by a licensed professional).

The Implementing Entity (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici GSE S.p.A.), following application eligibility according to the methods and criteria established in the Measures, provided for the publication on the websites of the Ministry and the Implementing Entity of the list of Beneficiaries admitted to the grant.

The Beneficiary Subject is required to notify the GSE, through the “Parco Agrisolare” portal, of the start of PV system construction and any complementary interventions within 30 days from the start date, i.e. from the availability of the specific functionality of the Portal.

Beneficiaries are required to implement, test and report on interventions within 18 months from the date of publication of the relevant list of Beneficiaries (excluding any requests for extensions, supported by objective motivations and granted by the GSE in consultation with MASAF). In all cases, the intervention, implementation and testing must be guaranteed and reported on by 30th June, 2026.

WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE “PARCO AGRISOLARE” CALL 2023

The notice identifies beneficiaries of the measure very specifically.

Beneficiaries are to include:

• Agricultural entrepreneurs, whether in individual or corporate form;
• Agro-industrial enterprises;
• Agricultural cooperatives engaged in those activities referred to in Article 2135 of the Civil Code and cooperatives or their consortia, as referred to in Article 1, paragraph 2, of Legislative Decree No. 228 of 18th May, 2001, regardless of their members;
• Entities referred to in the above points formed in aggregate form such as, but not limited to, temporary associations of enterprises (A.T.I.), temporary groupings of enterprises (R.T.I.), business networks and renewable energy communities (RECs).

MEASURE OF GRANTS

Implemented interventions are granted capital funding with a variable maximum aid intensity, with respect to eligible expenses, and governed by the decree itself.

COMPANIES IN THE PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SECTOR – within the limits of self-consumption and new case of shared self-consumption: the maximum grant recognizable is 80% of eligible expenses.

COMPANIES IN THE PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SECTOR-no self-consumption constraint: the maximum recognizable grant is 30 % of eligible expenses. The grant may be increased by:

• 20 percentage points, for aid provided to small businesses;

• 10 percentage points, for aid provided to medium-sized enterprises;

• 15 percentage points for investments made in assisted areas (Molise, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia).

COMPANIES IN THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT PROCESSING SECTOR: the maximum recognizable grant is equal to.

• 80% of eligible expenses if the PV system capacity is between 6 kWp and 200 kWp;
• 65% of eligible expenses if the PV system capacity is between 200 kWp and 500 kWp;
• 50% of eligible expenses if the system capacity is greater than 500 kWp up to a maximum of 1000 kWp.

COMPANIES IN THE SECTOR OF PROCESSING AGRICULTURAL TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS: the maximum recognizable intensity is 30 % of eligible expenses. The contribution intensity can be increased by:

• 20 percentage points, for provided given to small businesses;
• 10 percentage points, for provided given to medium-sized enterprises;
• 15 percentage points for investments made in assisted areas (Molise, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia).

INTERVENTIONS AND ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

To apply for the contribution as provided by the Decree, the photovoltaic system must be of new construction and with total peak power (expressed in kWp), not less than 6 kWp and not more than 1000 kWp. 

The contribution is recognized, within the expenditure limits provided, for the construction of photovoltaic systems on roofs instrumental to agricultural activity and for the implementation of other complementary interventions (where provided) aimed at upgrading and/or the energy efficiency of the buildings concerned. Each individual Grantee may apply for access to the grant with a maximum eligible expenditure not exceeding €2,330,000, broken down as follows:

• Up to € 1.500.000 for the installation of photovoltaic panels;

• up to € 700.000 for complementary interventions (asbestos removal, ventilation, insulation);

• Up to € 100.000 for storage systems;

• Up to € 30.000 for charging devices.

For all interventions described, design costs, affidavits and other professional expenses required by the type of intervention, including those related to the preparation and presentation of the Proposal, construction management and testing, are allowed within the relevant expenditure ceilings.

Why choose Southenergy

• Since 2008, we have been providing solutions aimed at enhancing renewable sources for “self-made” clean energy use. We have been doing this for 15 years.
• Southenergy’s service excellence: Consulting and Design, Construction, O&M, Due Diligence, Asset Management, Monitoring, Digital Energy.
• Our team’s know-how: We manage the entire value chain with qualified in-house staff and company vehicles and equipment, ensuring reliability and expertise at each stage of the project.
• Warranty and quality: We are official partners with top quality brands of materials in order to always guarantee the highest quality standing of our installations.