Parco Solare | The Casaloldo Solar Park (Mantua Province, Italy): Delays, Controversies, and Prospects until 2026

### Power from the fields or food? An Italian village fights for its future ### A turning point in the solar dispute? How agri-photovoltaics could solve Italy's energy problem ### Italy pulls the emergency brake: New law bans solar parks on farmland – with consequences for Casaloldo ### From problem case to blueprint? How a controversial solar park could become a model for Europe ###

Casaloldo Solar Park: Why a 15-megawatt project has been hanging in the balance for years

The development of large-scale solar parks is currently a significant issue in Italy, balancing the energy transition, landscape and nature conservation, and regional economic development. The planned solar park in Casaloldo exemplifies the challenges of such a large-scale project. In addition to technical, legal, and economic aspects, social and ecological considerations also play a central role.

Background of the Casaloldo project

The planned solar park in Casaloldo, in the province of Mantua, envisions the construction of a large photovoltaic system with storage technology on previously agricultural land. The goal is to generate renewable energy that will be fed into the Italian power grid. The project envisions combining solar power with battery storage systems, with a plant capacity of over 15 megawatts.

The planned site is located near Via Travagliati, a historic street in Casaloldo. The use of this area for a solar park project has sparked debate, as it has previously been used exclusively for agricultural purposes.

Approval procedures and current developments

As part of the permitting process, the company planning to build the solar park has requested and received an extension from the Province of Mantua for the submission of further project details and amendments. This postpones the timeline for the permitting process and the start of construction until at least 2026. On the one hand, this presents an opportunity to comprehensively revise the project and respond constructively to criticism from the public and authorities; on the other hand, it creates uncertainty for investors and compromises the planning security of local stakeholders.

Due to the complexity and the numerous objections received, the authority has deliberately expanded the scope of possible amendments. The approval process in Italy is generally known to be very demanding and lengthy – especially for projects affecting agricultural land.

Controversy over the planned solar park

The announcement of the solar farm has sparked considerable controversy in Casaloldo. Numerous citizen initiatives and environmental groups have criticized the project, arguing that it could negatively impact the landscape and lead to the loss of valuable agricultural land. The proximity to the historic road and historic buildings is particularly problematic.

Opponents emphasize that they fundamentally support the energy transition and the expansion of renewable energies, but demand the sustainable and appropriate integration of such projects into the landscape and regional context. They argue that the ecological transformation must not come at the expense of cultural and historical heritage.

To support their cause, opponents of the solar park have launched a petition. The aim is to demonstrate the breadth of their opposition to decision-makers in the province of Mantua and the Casaloldo municipal council and to critically monitor the permitting process.

Nature conservation and agriculture – a difficult balancing act

The use of agricultural land for photovoltaic systems is strictly regulated in Italy and is currently being made even more difficult by new legislative initiatives. Last year, the Italian government issued a decree that essentially prohibits the construction of solar parks on productive agricultural land. While this does not directly affect existing permitting procedures, it does increase the sensitivity surrounding land rezoning and the complexity of the procedures.

Photovoltaic systems that continue to permit agricultural use, so-called agri-photovoltaic systems, are still possible and are supported by a separate funding program. In this context, the development in Casaloldo exemplifies the tension between the desire for sustainable energy production and the protection of rural areas.

Economic importance for the region

Large-scale renewable energy projects are supported with subsidies from the Italian government and the European Union. Agri-photovoltaic projects that ensure the coexistence of agriculture and energy production can achieve high funding rates and are considered a pioneering model. Especially in economically weaker regions like the province of Mantua, such investments offer the prospect of new jobs and added value.

The municipality of Casaloldo is therefore caught between economic development and the protection of its established structures.

Technical details of the project

The planned photovoltaic plant in Casaloldo is designed as a ground-based system with battery storage. The installed capacity is over 15 megawatts. The technologies used are intended to enable high efficiency and continuous power feed-in, even during periods of low solar irradiation.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) complements the photovoltaic system, helping to balance short-term fluctuations in power generation and promote grid stability. Such combined systems are considered groundbreaking for the integration of renewable energies into European power grids.

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Legal framework in Italy

The approval process for solar parks in Italy is complex and subject to numerous regulations. In addition to environmental and nature conservation regulations, the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Culture are also of great importance.

The nationwide ban on PV systems on farmland does not affect agri-photovoltaic systems, provided agricultural use is still guaranteed. There are also transitional arrangements for projects already in the approval process. Nevertheless, numerous expert opinions and assessments are required to assess the impacts on the landscape, nature, and culture.

The Italian regions have adopted their own criteria for designating suitable and unsuitable areas for solar parks, and European directives stipulate that blanket bans on renewable energy use may not be imposed.

Impacts on the local community and the landscape

The facility is expected to cover several hectares and will permanently alter the landscape. Critics fear that scenic and cultural values – such as historic trails, farms, and natural areas – will be compromised. They also see a risk of weakening the local agricultural economy and reducing ecological diversity.

Proponents, however, point to the opportunities for regional development and the solar park's role in contributing to climate neutrality. Local production of renewable electricity is considered strategically important, particularly in light of the energy crisis of recent years.

Alternatives and best practice models

One approach to resolving this conflict is the agri-photovoltaics model, which combines solar power generation and land management. This is technically implemented, for example, through so-called high-mounted systems, in which the modules are mounted at a minimum height and agricultural use is possible beneath the solar farm.

Such models are already being used successfully in other regions of Italy. They make it possible to combine the generation of renewable electricity with the preservation of agricultural land use and the promotion of regional added value. Monitoring systems will be implemented in the future to ensure that the impacts on agricultural crops are objectively measured and documented.

Role of subsidies and economic incentives

Italy is subsidizing the construction of agri-photovoltaic systems with up to 40 percent of the investment costs. These incentives are part of the National Recovery Plan (PNRR) and support the achievement of ambitious climate targets. The electricity from such systems is paid for through feed-in tariffs.

Several large-scale projects with capacities of over 100 megawatts are currently being implemented primarily in southern Italy, for example, with the cultivation of figs and olives beneath the module rows. Plants are also already under construction or in operation in the north of the country, for example, near Rome and Palermo.

Italian expansion targets and European requirements

Italy has set ambitious goals for the development of renewable energies. Capacity is to be significantly expanded by 2030, and solar energy plays a central role in this. However, industry associations warn that the expansion could be hampered by complicated and inconsistent approval procedures.

European directives require that areas be designated for solar energy use and existing barriers be removed. The Italian government is therefore under pressure to simplify procedures and align expansion targets with nature conservation.

Transformation process of the Italian energy supply

The transition to renewable energies is a central component of Italian energy policy. Large-scale projects like the Casaloldo solar park are part of a nationwide infrastructure restructuring that also places new demands on the power grid and energy storage.

The integration of battery storage is seen as a crucial step toward grid stabilization. At the same time, local acceptance remains a key success factor for the rapid implementation of projects.

Casaloldo model for the future: Innovative solutions for the European energy transition

The development of the Casaloldo solar park exemplifies the complexity of implementing large-scale energy transition projects in rural Italy. Balancing climate protection, economic development, and cultural heritage preservation requires creativity, a willingness to engage in dialogue, and forward-looking planning.

The project's delay until 2026 opens up scope for constructive improvements and innovative solutions. It remains to be seen whether the willingness of all parties involved to engage in dialogue will lead to a viable compromise that neither compromises nature conservation nor energy production.

The development of agri-photovoltaic systems could serve as a best-practice model for the future and contribute to the sustainable transformation of Italy's energy and agricultural sectors. Casaloldo exemplifies the opportunities and challenges of the European energy transition at the local level.

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