Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) has granted a positive environmental impact assessment to a proposed 599 MW agrivoltaic plant.

The plant will be developed by Spanish company Solaria as part of its Spinazzola project in Puglia, southern Italy. The favourable opinion of the project was given via Decree 478/2026.

Solaria initially submitted an application to MASE in December 2024 for a 669.99 MW plant.

Following a review phase and opinions from both local authorities and Italy’s Ministry of Culture Superintendency, the plant’s capacity was gradually reduced first to 630.11 MW, then to 611 MW, and finally to its current 599 MW, meaning its planned capacity has been deducted by around 10% during the consultation phase.

The project, set to built in the municipalities of Spinazzola and Minervino Murge, has still received a negative opinion from MIC, as it falls within areas affected by “high archaeological risk”, as well as opposition from all the local authorities involved.

However, following the issuing of opinion 987/2026 from the PNRR-Pniec Commission, an Italian national environmental review body managed by MASE, the ministry decreed to issue the positive EIA, subject to several requirements.

Conditions to be met include the removal of lots and rows of panels to create ecological corridors, compensation of at least 30% of the field area, a no-build zone around the 21-Archi Bridge and a redesigned landscape design. Preventive archaeological excavation requirements also remain.