PHOTOVOLTAIC REVAMPING AND REPOWERING

Enhancing renewable energy plants for a sustainable energy transition

The growth of renewable energy is a cornerstone for the energy transition and the achievement of decarbonization goals, with photovoltaics at the forefront thanks to its economic sustainability and technological advancement. In this context, it is not enough to simply build new plants: improving the performance of existing ones through targeted revamping (technological modernization) and repowering (increasing installed capacity) interventions is equally critical. These actions not only address the need to boost green energy production but also optimize the use of existing resources.
EF Solare Italia, with over 1 GW of installed capacity, has made revamping and repowering a central part of its strategic plan. Since 2021, the company has been pursuing an ambitious project to enhance its portfolio assets. To date, over 280 MW of module revamping, more than 180 MW of inverter revamping, and over 20 MW of energized repowering have been completed. The overall plan aims to refurbish more than 450 MW of existing photovoltaic plants.

Photovoltaic Revamping in Campania

Recently, EF Solare Italia completed the revamping of photovoltaic plants located in Borgo San Lazzaro and Spineto (Campania), replacing thin-film modules with high-efficiency bifacial solar panels and fixed structures with a solar tracking system paired with state-of-the-art inverters. These plants, with a combined capacity of 21 MW, will produce about 30% more clean energy annually with the same power and surface area, avoiding approximately 18,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

For balanced development

Revamping and repowering activities are tailored to the specific characteristics of each operational plant. Feasibility studies are carried out to guide interventions that enhance plant performance, address existing issues, maximize production, minimize environmental impact, and control costs. Through these efforts, EF Solare Italia aligns itself with the European Union’s sustainable energy transition goals, fostering balanced growth without increasing land use. The Operations team is committed to staying at the forefront of market technology, continuously identifying and implementing the best opportunities available.
“In recent years, thanks to investments in R&D, it has been possible to develop and introduce more efficient photovoltaic modules capable of producing up to 30% more energy than first-generation modules. At the same time, we are dealing with 10-year-old photovoltaic plants, which experience a 6-8% reduction in peak power. In this scenario, revamping and repowering allow us to recover lost production capacity and install additional capacity without increasing the surface area. While recent legislative tools have simplified the permitting process, maintaining a favorable regulatory framework for revamping and repowering is essential to accelerate the achievement of energy transition goals,” said Gian Luca Teodori, Head of Operations at EF Solare Italia.