The IPV Conference, that ETA and Seamless-PV organized in Florence on the 28th of November 2024, also featured two insightful workshops showcasing Italy’s innovative approaches regarding to renewable energy integration, emphasizing agrivoltaics and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
The first session, moderated by Paolo Picchi, explored the emerging role of agrivoltaic systems as tools for agricultural innovation and landscape preservation. An Italian expert panel discussed their alignment with the European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000) and Tuscany’s landscape quality objectives, focusing on regulatory progress and challenges. The conversation underscored the need for agrivoltaics to be more effectively incorporated into regional landscape planning, helped by more friendly regulations and permit-granting process. This session was also part of the Cross European Cooperation for Agrivoltaics development promoted by the Symbiosyst project.
The second session, moderated by Lara Morandotti (PV Magazine) and Lucia Montoni (ETA-Florence and
University of Florence), underscored its transformative potential for Italy’s energy and construction sectors. Presentations highlighted cutting-edge research, real-world prototypes, and projects that integrate photovoltaics into building facades and infrastructures. Seamless-PV partners Casa S.p.a and PIZ showcased products and realizations that are integral parts of the project and that will see a real-life application in the next two years.
Discussions also explored the challenges of integrating BIPV into historical architecture and the importance of workforce training to ensure seamless implementation. The Italian sessions were attended by panels of experts including Raffaella Bisconti (Sun’Agri Italia Srl), Gabriele Paolinelli (University of Florence and AIAPP*), Marco Neri (Confagricoltura Toscana), Angelo Pignatelli (EF Solare Italia and Symbiosyst Project), Massimo Plazzer (Province of Trento), Laura Maturi (EURAC Research), Marco Barone (Casa s.p.a), Claudio Pirotta (PIZ srl), Carlo Zuccaro (Cooperativa GFF), Diego Prati, (the Italian Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises), Roamano Mati and Gabriele Giusti from National Association of Building Craftsmen (ANAEPA).
Lucia highlighted that Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) projects are pivotal for Italy’s cleaner energy future, as evidenced by the inspiring examples shared. She emphasized “there is a need to rethink energy production and consumption to create sustainable, smart, and beautiful cities.” “Achieving this vision requires collaboration among solar architecture stakeholders to drive seamless, innovative, and widely embraced building transformations.” This is extremely important for a country like Italy which possesses an immense amount of historical buildings and protected areas, which however need to be ready to face the requirements of the green transition.
* The Italian Chapter of the International Federation of Landscape Architects IFLA
