Italy

On July 21, 2026, a severe storm passed over the Marche region in central Italy. Hailstones as large as mangoes struck the photovoltaic system of CCE Italia in Servigliano and caused significant damage to the modules. The system, with a capacity of 993 kW over an area of about 19,800 square meters, which had previously generated about 1,300 MWh of electricity annually, had to be temporarily disconnected from the grid.

The team at CCE Italia used the situation not only to repair the system but also to comprehensively modernize it. Within four weeks, new, significantly more powerful modules from Canadian Solar based on N-Type-TOPCon technology were installed. These are characterized by lower degradation and respond very robustly to high temperatures. Since September 23, 2026, the system has been reliably feeding electricity into the grid again.

What hit the modules could have hit the harvest

Beyond the successful restoration, the event has provided another insight: The force with which the hail hit the modules could have destroyed the harvest of an entire year on an unprotected agricultural area. For farmers, especially in fruit and viticulture, such events often mean significant economic losses.

"If there had been an orchard under our system in Servigliano, at least 80 percent of the harvest could have been saved. The panels would have intercepted these huge hailstones," explains Sandro Esposto, managing director of CCE Italia.

Dual land use, dual benefit

Agri-PV combines agricultural production and power generation on the same land. The photovoltaic modules are arranged in such a way that fruit, vegetables, or other crops can still be grown under or between them. In addition to generating renewable energy, the modules serve a protective function: They shield the crops from hail and heavy rain, mitigate intense sunlight and heat stress, and can reduce soil evaporation. Especially in the Mediterranean region, where heatwaves and storms have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years, this protection is becoming increasingly important.

For agricultural businesses, Agri-PV opens up an additional perspective: They better secure their yields against weather risks and simultaneously tap into a stable source of income from power generation. For the energy transition, it means that photovoltaics can be expanded without competing with food production for land.

Resilience for agriculture and energy supply

CCE develops, builds, and operates Agri-PV projects alongside traditional ground-mounted and rooftop systems. The experiences from Servigliano encourage the company to further advance this area together with agricultural partners, in Italy as well as in the other markets where CCE is active. The goal is to create solutions that make both agriculture and energy supply more resilient.