Ferrari’s Greenhouse Gas Mission Aids Local Communities
Ferrari is hoping to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, and those of nearby communities and businesses, by building solar energy plants in two towns near its facilities in Italy.
The automaker has signed an agreement with solar energy company Enel X to create a photovoltaic plant serving a new renewable energy community (REC) in the towns of Fiorano and Maranello. This Ferrari Energy Community will be the first ever REC in Italy to be promoted and supported by an industrial company for the benefit of its local area.
The project envisages the installation of a photovoltaic system of approximately 1 MWp by December 2023, on 10,000sqm of disused land owned by Ferrari adjacent to the Fiorano Circuit, whose energy will be entirely made available to the local community. Any public or private entity in Fiorano and Maranello may become a member of the Ferrari REC, including citizens, institutions, commercial activities and factories, will all be able to use the renewable energy produced, or also help generate sustainable energy. If they install or connect additional photovoltaic power generation systems, for example on their own roofs, they can boost the benefits for themselves and the community, adding to the positive impact of the project on the area.
The communities, which will be powered by Enel X’s single-axis trackers and ultra-high-performance double-sided photovoltaic panels, will bring both an environmental and a socio-economic impact. The plant at Fiorano will generate an average production of around 1,500 MWh for 20 years, saving approximately 450 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Benedetto Vigna, Ferrari CEO, said: “Sustainability is a priority for us: not only do we aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, but we also want to be a catalyst for a wider change. The Ferrari Energy Community is a concrete example of the possible synergy between an industry and the community in which it operates, and a model that can bring important benefits to the Italian energy system. Because of its scalability and replicability, it can accelerate the process of decarbonization while reducing the cost of energy for citizens and businesses.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
