Dual Use Instead of Land-use Conflict: VSB Receives Approval For Agri-photovoltaic plant in Umbria

Potenza (Italy) /Dresden – A new agri-photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 6.2 megawatts is set to be built in the municipality of Città della Pieve in the central Italian region of Umbria.

Project developer VSB Italia has received the necessary approvals for the project, including environmental impact assessment and the Autorizzazione Unica (AU). Covering an area of approximately 10.6 hectares, the plant is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the theoretical annual demand of around 3,300 people.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, with commissioning planned for 2027. Due to the complexity of grid connection processes, the timeline has been deliberately structured to ensure smooth integration and optimal connection to the regional electricity network.

The agri-PV concept combines solar power generation with agricultural land use. Through crop rotation involving forage and arable crops, the land will continue to be cultivated while being ecologically enhanced. According to VSB, this approach helps improve soil fertility and biodiversity.

“Our goal with this project is to demonstrate how renewable energy can be developed without compromising agricultural productivity, but by complementing and enriching it,” said Francesco Rossi, Managing Director of VSB Italia.

Dr Felix Grolman, CEO of the VSB Group, considers the project a successful example of synergies: “This project shows how we can successfully unite renewable energy and agriculture.”

Headquartered in Dresden, the VSB Group has been part of TotalEnergies since 2025. The company focuses on the development and operation of onshore wind, photovoltaic and storage projects. Across Europe, VSB has a project pipeline of more than 18 gigawatts.

Source: IWR Online, 04 Sep 2025