Zenith Energy Buys 10-MW Agrivoltaic Project in Italy’s Lazio Region

• London-listed Zenith Energy acquires a 10-MW agrivoltaic plant in Lazio, doubling its solar pipeline and blending crop production with power.

London-listed Zenith Energy Ltd. has snapped up a development-stage 10-MW agrivoltaic project in Italy’s Lazio region, marking its first continental European solar move and doubling its total PV pipeline to 20 MW.

The company purchased 100 % of local developer Wesolar S.r.l. for €1.3 million plus milestone payments tied to permitting. The project, located near Frosinone, is expected to reach ready-to-build status within 12 months and will feature elevated single-axis trackers allowing cereals and pasture to thrive beneath.

CEO Andrea Cattaneo said agrivoltaics “ticks two strategic boxes—land access and community acceptance,” noting that Lazio’s zoning rules favour dual-use agriculture over conventional ground-mount arrays. Zenith will finance construction with a mix of vendor loans and green bonds, targeting commercial operation in late 2027.

Agrivoltaic capacity in Italy has leapt from 22 MW in 2020 to more than 350 MW today as land-use pushback intensifies. The national government’s 2024 decree streamlining permits for projects that maintain at least 70 % agricultural productivity has spurred a wave of M&A among small developers holding early-stage permits.

For Zenith, better asset diversification is key; the firm’s revenues still lean on West African oil production. Management says renewables will exceed 50 % of EBITDA by 2030, with Italian agrivoltaics forming a cornerstone.