Farm land used for ground-based photovoltaic plants

Priority question for written answer  P-002300/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Mara Bizzotto (ID)

After authorisation was granted for a ground-based photovoltaic plant in Loreo, in the province of Rovigo, the ‘Mamme zero consumo suolo’ community group launched the petition ‘Stop fotovoltaico su suolo agricolo’ [Stop the use of farm land for photovoltaic installations], which is also supported by the national farmers federation Coldiretti.

The Veneto regional executive is drawing up a new law to regulate their installation, in view of the proliferation of applications for new photovoltaic plants with ground-based modules.

Andrea Zaghi, chief executive of ‘Elettricità Futura’, an association of over 500 firms operating in the electricity sector and a member of Confindustria, the general confederation of Italian industry, has declared however that ‘this move [...] would conflict with national and EU goals on developing renewable resources’.

The environmental association Legambiente considers that solar farms may be ‘a winning investment suitable for meeting the new and ambitious climate and environment requirements that CAP support is expressly aimed at in the 2021-2027 CAP programme’.

Given that the EU is targeting sustainable development, deployment of renewable energy and environmentally and economically sustainable farming, including through the 2030 biodiversity strategy and the new CAP:

• 1.What is the Commission’s view on ground-based photovoltaic plants?
• 2.Does it plan to lay down rules on this in order to avoid litigation between private individuals, association and institutions?