Covering an area equivalent to 18 football fields, the photovoltaic system on the rooftops of Fantoni in Osoppo is the largest in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe.
With the aid of a helicopter, installation work has begun in Osoppo on the largest photovoltaic system on an industrial structure in Italy—and one of the largest in Europe. This is the project carried out by the Fantoni Group, marking a new and significant milestone in its journey toward environmental sustainability.
Thanks to the 27,614 panels installed on 130,000 square meters of factory rooftops, the system will produce 13.37 GWh of energy per year—as much as the consumption of 4,900 households—while avoiding the emission of 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This benefit is equivalent to the “work” of 130,000 trees.
The Fantoni Group has long invested in its own renewable energy plants: eight hydroelectric power stations and biomass boilers already contribute to decarbonizing 70% of its energy needs. The new mega photovoltaic system will cover the 5% of its electricity demand. The investment amounts to 14 million euros, part of a broader 250-million-euro plan aimed at making the Friulian industry even greener.
“Our industry is energy-intensive,” comments President Paolo Fantoni, “but through constant investment we aim not only to free ourselves from the fluctuations of the energy market—which, as we’ve seen in recent years, can be significant and often speculative—but also to reduce our overall environmental impact. Beyond energy procurement, for instance, we have also invested in the production cycle: today, 100% of our particle boards and 50% of our MDF panels are made from recycled wood.”
The construction of the mega photovoltaic system—scheduled to go into operation by the end of the year with a capacity of 12.15 MWp—is being managed by Trentino-based company Nyox, using European technology: the latest-generation modules are from Austrian firm Sonnenkraft, and the support profiles are supplied by Dutch company Panelclaw.
“We are truly proud to put our expertise at the service of a project that sets a record in renewable energy and contributes to decarbonizing a major industrial hub in Northeastern Italy,” adds Nyox CEO Alex Bottini. Installation is taking place alongside ongoing production, and to ensure maximum speed and precision during the mounting phases, a helicopter is also being used.