Rome, January 27th, 2021 – Enel Green Power was awarded 34.5 MW of new renewable capacity for two wind projects and 27.2* MW of power from the repowering of already-operational hydroelectric plants in the fourth FER auction run by GSE (the Italian state-owned energy service company, Gestore Servizi Energetici). In addition, in the fourth FER register, Enel Green Power and Enel Produzione were awarded 0.83 MW of new renewable capacity for five solar projects on the roofs of Enel buildings.
In relation to the new wind capacity, the two plants will be located in Sicily and Campania and construction work will begin in 2021 and 2022 respectively, with entry into operation in 2022. For the new solar capacity, the five photovoltaic plants will be built in Sicily, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, with work beginning and completed in 2021. When it comes to the upgrading and useful life extension of the two already-operational hydroelectric plants, repowering sites will be set up between 2021 and 2022 in Veneto, in the municipalities of Vigo di Cadore and Auronzo di Cadore, both in the province of Belluno.
“With this award we are making progress in the implementation of our Strategic Plan for the growth of renewables in Italy, a key country for our activities,” said Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power and Director of the Global Power Generation Division. “The investment plan in new renewable capacity will contribute to the decarbonization objectives of the Group and the country, supporting the progressive replacement of conventional sources with zero emission ones. The trend seen in previous auctions continued with offered projects significantly lower than tender volumes, and the participation of a few operators. This is largely due to the slow authorization procedures that clearly hold back Italy’s energy transition."
Building new capacity and upgrading existing plants in Italy is part of the Enel Group's broader commitment to the growth of renewables and decarbonization, which will involve, over the 2021-2023 period, the development in the country of 1.5 GW of new renewable capacity and for which EGP has developed a pipeline of both greenfield and repowering projects for around 3.2 GW** that can enter into service in the period.
Enel's 2021-2023 Strategic Plan foresees a significant global increase in additional capacity from renewable sources of around 19.5 GW, to reach a total capacity of 68 GW.
* capacity from hydro concession
** portfolio of projects at Capital Market Day 2020 (November 2020)