The company Acciona EnergĂa has given a new boost to its renewable energy presence in Italy by securing 151 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic power in the latest public auction organized under the FERX scheme. This capacity will translate into the construction of two large-scale solar plants on the island of Sicily, one of the areas with the greatest solar resources in the country and increasingly strategic for European investors.
With this award, the company reinforces its role as one of the main Spanish players in the Italian market, where The latest tenders have allocated thousands of megawatts of solar power. among different developers. The move aligns with Italy's commitment to accelerating its energy transition, while securing predictable prices for clean energy generation for two decades.
Two new photovoltaic plants in Lentini (Sicily)
The package awarded to Acciona EnergĂa will materialize in the projects Panbianco and Benante, two large photovoltaic projects that will be built in the municipality of Lentini, in the province of SyracuseSoutheast of Sicily. Panbianco will have an approximate capacity of 100,8 MW, while Benante will add another 50,2 MW, completing the 151 MW obtained in the auction.
The forecast is that Construction work will begin in 2026Once the permitting and detailed design phase is complete, commercial operation is expected by the end of 2027, meaning the plants could be feeding energy into the grid before the end of that decade, contributing to the achievement of national and EU climate targets.
According to the company's estimates, both facilities will together generate around 277,5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per yearThis production is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than 55.000 people, which gives an idea of ​​the scale of the project within the Sicilian energy system.
In environmental terms, The new solar capacity will allow us to avoid CO2 emissions annual
The role of the FERX mechanism in Italy
The awarding of these 151 MW has taken place through the FERX mechanism, the long-term contracts for difference (CfD) system Italy has implemented a scheme to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. This scheme guarantees a reference price for the energy produced over a period of 20 years, offering income stability to developers and reducing the risk associated with the volatility of the electricity market.
This type of contract sets a target value for the electricity generated; when the market price is below that value, the producer is compensated, and when it is above it, the surplus is returned to the systemThis provides certainty for both developers and the State, which can plan renewable expansion and associated costs in a more predictable way.
Within this framework, Italy has awarded almost 9 gigawatts (about 8.811 MW) of new photovoltaic power in the latest round of auctions. A significant part of this capacity, more than 1.100 MW, is linked to projects framed within the European Union's Net Zero Emission Industry (NZIA) Act, aimed at strengthening the manufacturing and value chain of clean technologies within the EU.
The balance between regulatory stability, long-term contracts, and climate objectives makes FERX perceived in the sector as a key tool to accelerate Italy's energy transitionSeveral winning companies have highlighted that this mechanism is helping to improve the country's industrial competitiveness and unlock investments that have been in the pipeline for some time.
Strong presence of Spanish companies in the auctions
The latest FERX tenders have featured a notable participation of developers with headquarters or a strong presence in Spain. Overall, Companies linked to the Spanish market have achieved around 922,2 MW of photovoltaic power, which represents slightly more than one tenth of the total allocated capacity.
Among these actors is Acciona EnergĂa, with its 151 MW in LentiniBut there are also other groups that have chosen Italy as a priority location. X-Elio, for example, is one of the major beneficiaries, with nearly 190,7 MW distributed across four agrivoltaic projects located in Sicily, all under the umbrella of the NZIA and in provinces such as Catania, Trapani, Palermo, and Agrigento.
Other notable names include Zelestra, Sonnedix, Repsol, Opdenergy, Iberdrola, Greening, Grupotec or Asterion EnergiesThese solar systems have achieved varying levels of power in different Italian regions, from Puglia to Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Lazio, Tuscany, and Campania. This geographical diversity indicates how the country's solar map is expanding beyond the traditional nodes.
Still, Sicily is consolidating its position as one of the main focuses of these awardsThe combination of very high solar radiation, land availability and improved administrative processes is attracting numerous projects to the island, which is establishing itself as a true photovoltaic corridor in southern Europe.
Acciona EnergĂa's position in the Italian market
The new photovoltaic projects add to a track record of more than A quarter of a century of Acciona in ItalyThe company has been present in the country mainly through its water and construction businesses, with benchmark contracts such as several sections of the Apulia sanitation project, the Fuente Presidiana water treatment plant, and the Ravenna port breakwater.
In the strictly renewable sphere, Acciona EnergĂa already manages 156 MW of wind power in ItalyDistributed across four parks: Cocullo (Abruzzo), Isola and Sant'Anna (Calabria), and Caccamo (also in Sicily). The addition of Panbianco and Benante will significantly expand its asset base in the country and balance its portfolio between wind and solar.
This growth aligns with the company's strategy to strengthen its presence in European markets with stable regulatory frameworks and ambitious climate goals. Italy, with its successive reforms and the implementation of FERX, has gone in just a few years from a scenario of strong uncertainty to one in which developers perceive a clearer planning horizon.
In addition to the direct benefit in terms of clean energy generation, Projects of this magnitude usually revitalize the local economy. During the construction and operation phases, jobs will be created through supply contracts, auxiliary services, and specialized employment. Although specific job figures have not been detailed, the commissioning of the plants in Lentini is expected to have an impact on the local economy.
With the awarding of these 151 MW photovoltaic projects in Sicily, Acciona EnergĂa consolidates another piece in its international expantionMeanwhile, Italy is advancing its renewable energy roadmap, relying on FERX and significant participation from European companies, including several Spanish ones, which are taking advantage of the country's solar boom to deploy new capacity and position themselves in one of the key markets for the energy transition in the Mediterranean.
