Italy has committed to investing 90 million euros ($97 million) in Enel’s solar panel factory in Sicily, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Saturday.
The significant investment, sourced from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), is aimed at supporting Enel’s plans to transform its Sicilian facility into a major hub for solar panel production in Europe. Prime Minister Meloni shared details of the investment during a visit to his 3Sun factory in the city of Catania.
Prime Minister Meloni expressed confidence in the potential of this project, saying, “This project, funded by 90 million euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, will strengthen the current factory and make it possible to establish further new production lines.” did.
Meloni emphasized the regional importance of the project, adding: “It is our bet that Catania will become one of the most important centers for the production of solar panels.”
Enel’s 3Sun factory has an existing capacity of approximately 200 megawatts (MW) per year, which will be significantly expanded to reach 3 gigawatts (GW) by the end of this year.
Although delayed by six months compared to Enel’s original announcement (2022), the expansion is in line with the European Union’s broader commitment to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and reduce dependence on gas imports from Russia. Consistent with goals.
Prime Minister Meloni said that by the end of 2024, the company plans to create 700 new jobs directly within the 3Sun factory and a further 1,000 jobs indirectly through cooperation with supporting companies. emphasized.
The investment in the Sicily plant follows Enel securing a €560 million financing package in January comprising funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a consortium of Italian banks led by UniCredit. . Additional financial support is expected from the European Union’s Innovation Fund, which specializes in green technology projects.
Prime Minister Meloni emphasized the importance of competitiveness in this field, saying, “We want and need to be competitive in this field compared to Asian players.”
Sources said Enel is currently in talks with potential investors to sell up to 50% of the factory. This move is in line with broader trends in the global renewable energy landscape and positions Italy as a key player in the transition to sustainable energy.