The opening event was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Ginosa, Domenico Gigante; the President of the Apulian Production District “La Nuova Energia”, Beppe Bratta; and the CEO of Zelestra Italia, Eliano Russo.
The inauguration marks the first fully operational project in the company’s Italian portfolio, which includes a pipeline of more than 1.4 GW of solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across the country.
Ginosa will produce 11.7 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to cover the needs of about 4,000 Italian households, helping to avoid the emission of almost 3,700 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year.
The agrivoltaic plant was developed in compliance with the National Guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), allowing full coexistence between energy production and agriculture. The solar modules are elevated to allow for continued agricultural activity on the site.
Delivering the project generated over 50 jobs during the construction phase, with Altenia, part of the Terna Energy Solutions Group, acting as EPC contractor.
Zelestra developed the plant by adopting solutions with low environmental and landscape impact, ensuring the maintenance of agricultural production and the protection of biodiversity. The area is shielded by perimeter tree strips and the project is accompanied by an environmental monitoring plan for soil, water, air, noise and biodiversity - active before, during and after construction.
The Ginosa plant is part of a broader strategic collaboration between Zelestra and BKW Energy, formalized through a ten-year PPA that also includes the Bellomo agrivoltaic project (Modica, Sicily), with an installed capacity of 9.5 MWdc.
“With the Ginosa plant we celebrate the first kWh produced by Zelestra in Italy” said Eliano Russo, CEO of Zelestra Italia. “It is an important milestone that marks the beginning of an industrial journey in the country, built through dialogue with local communities and institutions. We will continue to invest to develop sustainable projects that combine energy production, land protection and local economic growth.”
During the day, Zelestra also launched a new ‘Zelestra FutureS’ initiative, announcing the Zelestra Energy Academy at the Civic Library of Ginosa. The initiative is designed for local students and was created with the aim of promoting the culture of sustainability, energy and ecological transition, contributing to the development of skills and the training of the new generations.
“The Zelestra Energy Academy represents a pillar of our sustainability strategy” said Giorgia Epicoco, Director of Institutional Affairs and Public Policies, Zelestra Italia. “Combining the development of energy infrastructure with a concrete commitment to training means creating lasting value for communities and contributing to the development of key skills for the energy transition.”
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