Gruppo Futura Secures €46M to Build Italy’s First Advanced Agrivoltaic Plant with Storage System

Gruppo Futura srl, a development, investment, and management platform in the renewable energy sector, active in the solid plant biomass supply chains, waste management, EPC and maintenance of renewable energy plants, and the management of organic tropical fruit growing chains in Italy covering over 650 hectares, has secured €46 million in financing to support the development of the first advanced agrivoltaic plant with a storage system.

Gruppo Futura Secures €46M for Italy’s First Agrivoltaic Plant with Storage

The financing was provided by a pool of banks led by UniCredit, which acted as Global Coordinator & Bookrunner, Structuring Mandated Lead Arranger, Original Lender, Sustainability Coordinator, and Hedging Bank.

The pool of banks also includes Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, BPER, and Banco di Sardegna as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Original Lenders, and Hedging Banks, as well as Banca Ifigest , which acted as Mandated Lead Arranger, Original Lender, and Account Bank. BPER also acted as Account Bank & Agent and Sustainability Coordinator.

The financing is structured as a mini-perm green loan project financing for a special purpose vehicle wholly owned by the Futura Group, owner of an advanced agrivoltaic plant with an energy storage system. The transaction, certified green according to the Green Loan Principles, is intended to cover the construction and start-up costs of the plant, which will have a total capacity of approximately 45 MWp and will be combined with a storage system of approximately 48 MWh.

The project, which integrates renewable energy production and agricultural activities, represents a significant step in Italy’s energy transition and contributes to the stability of the national and regional electricity system. It was designed to foster the coexistence of livestock farming and photovoltaic production, creating virtuous synergies capable of generating economic and environmental benefits for both sectors.

The agrivoltaic system, combined with BESS technology, is designed for an estimated annual production of approximately 85 GWh, enough to power approximately 30,000 Italian households. Its operation will avoid the emission of over 18,000 tons of CO2 each year, equivalent to a total saving of over 450,000 tons of CO2 over the entire life cycle of the system.

The plant, currently in an advanced stage of construction, will enter into operation within the first half of 2026 and will benefit from the contract for difference with the GSE, ensuring economic stability and long-term sustainability.

According to Simone Micheletti, CEO and founder of the Futura Group together with President Bruno Fisi, “this project, successfully completed thanks to the professionalism and experience of the Futura Group and in particular of Chief Financial Officer Francis Ravano , represents a milestone for the sector. It is the first co-located hybrid photovoltaic plant of significant size to enter into operation in Italy, financed for the first time through project financing.”

“This confirms the innovative and cutting-edge approach that characterizes the corporate culture and the people who work at the Futura Group every day; a group that continues to grow and pursue ambitious and sustainable initiatives, closely integrated with the economic and social fabric of the region. The Project contributes to a more secure and sustainable energy future, also strengthening the stability of the national electricity grid and enabling the development of marginal and underproductive agricultural land as well as a significant income supplement for the agricultural businesses involved,” the Futura CEO said.

Chief Financial Officer Francis Ravano added: “We are very pleased to have successfully completed this further significant financing transaction to support our greenfield pipeline of solar, agrivoltaic, and storage plants. I thank our entire Futura team, without whom we would never have achieved these results.”

Paola Garibotti, UniCredit’s North West Regional Manager, added: “With the first project financing in Italy to support the construction of an advanced agrivoltaic system integrated with a storage system, UniCredit confirms its concrete commitment to the transition to a green and sustainable economy. We actively support, with innovative green finance solutions, clients who intend to invest in transforming their production model, thus contributing to a more responsible future.”

Founded by Simone Micheletti in 2019, Gruppo Futura is a spin-off of Serramanna Energia spa , the company that controls the Serramanna Sardinia Bio Energy power plant , which is fueled by solid plant biomass and has a capacity of 49 MWt. The group was created to diversify growth into new market segments in the development of plants powered by various renewable energy sources (photovoltaic and biomethane), regenerative agriculture (tropical fruit), waste management, and EPC engineering.

At the moment, Futura boasts over 115 MWp of authorized photovoltaic plants, either in operation or soon to be operational, and a pipeline of solar, biomethane, and BESS plants in various stages of development.

Gruppo Futura is 66.7% controlled by Auriga Holding srl , which in turn is 95% owned by Simone Micheletti and the remainder by Pierfranco Micheletti and Franca Di Berto . Auriga is the same parent company as Serramanna Energia (66.7%). The other shareholder of Gruppo Futura, with the remaining 33.3%, is E Power srl , of which Bruno Fisi, who as mentioned is president of Futura, is the sole director.

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(Featured image by Quang Nguyen Vinh via Unsplash)

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