TRIESTE – Autostrade Alto Adriatico is set to develop a large-scale photovoltaic park along the A4 motorway: a 79-hectare initiative designed to deliver widespread economic and environmental benefits, involving local authorities, businesses and households through energy communities.
The concessionaire has completed a feasibility study for an installation to be developed mainly along the Venice–Trieste motorway corridor. The project, one of the first of its kind in Europe on a motorway scale, foresees the start of the implementation phase in the first quarter of 2026, with the opening of the first construction site in 2027, pending approval from the Ministry of Infrastructure. The goal is twofold: to cut energy costs and to promote the creation of local energy communities.
The study identified suitable areas within 300 meters of the motorway network, including junctions, embankments and canopies. In the first phase, 79 hectares are immediately available, with potential expansion to 108 hectares upon completion of the A4 third-lane works. Of this, 85% could be allocated to energy communities, generating estimated benefits of at least €1.3 million per year. By utilizing the remaining 15% of the areas, Autostrade Alto Adriatico would cover its entire energy needs, saving about €1.56 million annually.
The investment planned for the self-consumption plants amounts to €7.7 million, included in the updated Economic and Financial Plan.
«These initiatives,» emphasized Zorro Grattoni, Board Member and Project Manager, «will not only ensure environmental benefits but also greater liquidity for the company, freeing up resources for maintenance and safety. Moreover, using non-agricultural grassland areas will avoid additional land consumption in the regions crossed by the motorway».
