Iberdrola has commissioned Fénix, its largest photovoltaic plant in Italy. Located in Sicily, the 243 MW facility is now fully operational and is expected to generate nearly 400,000 MWh per year, enough to supply the equivalent electricity demand of more than 140,000 households.

Situated between the municipalities of Centuripe, Paternò and Belpasso, in the provinces of Enna and Catania, the project strengthens Italy's domestic renewable generation capacity and marks another milestone in Iberdrola's expansion in the Italian market.

The solar plant is equipped with more than 413,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules and is connected to the national grid through 26 kilometres of medium-voltage lines and 9 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines. At the peak of construction, the project employed more than 500 workers.

Most of the plant's output secured through long-term PPAs

A key feature of the project is that most of Fénix's electricity production has already been contracted under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with leading Italian companies. According to Iberdrola, these agreements will help customers stabilise their energy costs, strengthen security of supply and improve their competitiveness.

The company said the project will also support the electrification of Italy's industrial sector by providing businesses with long-term access to renewable electricity.

Strengthening Iberdrola's presence in Italy

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Hugh Elliott, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola Energía Internacional; Valerio Faccenda, Country Manager of Iberdrola Italia; Miguel Ángel Fernández-Palacios Martínez, Spain's Ambassador to Italy; and regional and local authorities.

With the commissioning of Fénix, Iberdrola expands its renewable generation portfolio in Italy and increases the supply of solar electricity to residential and industrial consumers through long-term power purchase agreements.