Agrivoltaics in Italy: the Ora pilot project
Integrating photovoltaics and agriculture for a sustainable future
The Symbiosyst project marks a pivotal step forward in the development of agrivoltaics across Europe, aiming to create a sustainable model that efficiently combines agricultural production with solar energy generation. Involving 18 international partners, the initiative is focused on developing advanced technological solutions to make agrivoltaics more competitive, adaptable to different crop types, climates, and landscapes.
EF Solare Italia’s role in the Symbiosyst project
EF Solare Italia is responsible for designing, building, and field-testing new agrivoltaic installations across several European sites, assessing their performance in varied agricultural settings.
The agrivoltaic prototype in Ora (Bolzano)
One of the most innovative installations was inaugurated on May 26th in Ora, in the province of Bolzano. This pilot site stands out for its state-of-the-art engineering, designed to seamlessly integrate solar panels with existing apple orchards:
• Solar trackers elevated 4.7 meters above ground
• Row spacing of 6.4 and 5 meters, tailored to suit different planting layouts (three-dimensional or two-dimensional “Guyot” systems)
• Corten steel finishes, ensuring visual harmony with the Alpine landscape
• Adjustable anti‑hail nets and anti‑frost devices, providing protection against extreme weather events
• Semi‑transparent solar panels, with 10% and 40% transparency levels, optimizing sunlight for the crops below and allowing for experimental trials
• A comprehensive environmental and agronomic sensor system, monitoring irradiance, temperature, humidity, wind, albedo, and other microclimate parameters within the installation and in external control areas.
An intelligent, sustainable system
Credits: Eurac Research – Martin Telser
As explained by Angelo Pignatelli, Head of Engineering and R&D at EF Solare Italia, and Pietro Felici, Senior Engineering Manager at EF Solare Italia:
“The photovoltaic modules, mounted nearly five meters above a 3,000‑square‑meter cultivated area, track the sun throughout the day using specially designed solar trackers. This maximizes energy generation while allowing enough light to reach the crops below. These trackers can withstand strong winds and carry sensors that monitor the entire ecosystem — energy production, environmental conditions, and microclimate. The system was designed to be installed over existing apple orchards, making it compatible with ongoing agricultural activities. In fact, it creates an opportunity to improve farming practices by continuously monitoring parameters such as soil moisture and photosynthetically active solar radiation.”
With an installed capacity of 70 kWp, the system is connected to the electrical grid, allowing for the collection of critical data to optimize future agrivoltaic installations.
The primary design and construction challenge was integrating the prototype into an existing orchard. The crops were effectively preserved throughout the work, demonstrating the ability of agrivoltaic systems — when co‑designed with agriculture — to protect local ecosystems.
The benefits of agrivoltaics
The Ora pilot project shows how agrivoltaics isn’t a compromise, but a synergistic solution benefiting both agriculture and energy generation:
• Reduced evapotranspiration and irrigation needs.
• Protection of leaves and fruit from excessive solar radiation during the hotter hours of the day.
• Real‑time agronomic monitoring to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting.
• A natural cooling effect beneath the panels, increasing PV efficiency during the hottest seasons.
A strategic vision for the energy of the future
The Symbiosyst project aims to solidify the role of agrivoltaics as a strategic resource for the ecological transition — producing renewable, low cost, and locally generated energy while safeguarding agricultural productivity.