The Parco solare Casei Gerola
The Parco solare Casei Gerola is a ground-mounted solar PV park located in the municipality of Casei Gerola, in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. The project, which has been implemented in the period of 2022-23, is fully operational from 2023 and represents one of the latest renewable energy (RE) developments in the region. The plant with an overall installed capacity of 4.54 MW generates an average of 7 GWh of electricity per year, supplying electricity to around 2,200 households267. It covers an area of about 6.5 hectares, is managed by Enel268 and is equipped with bi-facial photovoltaic panels mounted on single-axis trackers that follow the sun’s movement throughout the day to maximise energy production. By replacing fossil fuel-based energy sources, the solar PV park helps avoid around 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Community engagement and benefit-sharing mechanisms are key aspects of the Parco solare Casei Gerola project. The initiative is part of Scelta Rinnovabile, an Enel Green Power programme designed to encourage the active participation of local communities in RE projects. A notable feature of this engagement strategy is the Ener2Crowd crowdfunding campaign, which allowed citizens to invest directly in the solar park. In addition, parallel initiatives for the local well-being, such as the installation of micro-PV and the introduction of EV chargers, not only encourage local involvement in the clean energy transition but also offer tangible economic benefits to those who actively support the project.
The Casei Gerola project exemplifies a successful model of community engagement and benefit-sharing. Using the Ener2Crowd crowdfunding platform, local residents were able to invest directly in the solar park, contributing 3.5% of the total CAPEX and receiving a competitive annual return of 5.5% for residents. In addition to this financial participation, the project provided significant in-kind benefits, including the installation of a 20-kW solar system on the roof of the local school, an EV charging station, and two defibrillators for the community.
