Enel's goal is to give new life to industrial areas that have outlived their role in the energy scenario, minimizing land consumption and accelerating the energy transition: an example is the “Alessandro Volta” thermoelectric plant located in Montalto di Castro. Right here, the national electric giant and Comal - a company that deals with the construction of photovoltaic systems that has its headquarters in the municipality of Viterbo - signed the agreement for the opening of a factory of trackers completely Italian - devices that allow photovoltaic panels to orientate and follow the sun during the day – in order to support energy production from photovoltaics of up to 1 GW per year and to bring back to Italy the production of devices that until now were imported.
Montalto di Castro plant: the integrated project takes shape
In detail, the factory of Sun Hunter tracker of Comal, whose works will already start in the first months of the year, will be located within an area of over 30.000 square meters, no longer used for the plant's energy activities, engaging up to 70 production workers, generating new jobs also to re-employ the personnel coming from the associated activities of thermoelectric plants being abandoned in northern Lazio.
The demolition of the decommissioned oil groups is already underway on the site. The Italian multi-utility has started the authorization process to be able to create a new photovoltaic system on an area of about 20 hectares, for a power of about 10 MW. Another 6 hectares will be used to host storage systems of energy for approximately 245 MW, providing a further contribution to the use of renewables and to the stability of the electricity system: also in this case the authorization procedures are already underway. In line with the indications of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and to favor Italy's exit from fossil fuels, renewed and more efficient gas turbine plants will remain active in the plant.
To complete the development of the site, further solutions are being studied, including an innovative project of hydroponic greenhouse, for which technical-economic feasibility analyzes are underway and which will be able to benefit from the new areas and a part of the existing ones.
Enel and its plan to recover abandoned plants
The Montalto di Castro plant is at the center of an important plan by the Enel Group for the redevelopment of the sites of its decommissioned plants in order to enhance the existing structures and integrate them with new renewable production plants and storage systems, combined with new business projects in different areas developed by third parties.
Updated at 15:03 on Thursday 17 February 2022
