Elettra Investimenti SpA and IGD SIIQ sign an agreement for the supply of electricity generated through solar panels in three shopping centers
Systems with an installed capacity of 1.4 MWp will be in place by year-end 2016
Elettra Investimenti S.p.A., a company active throughout Italy in the production of electricity and thermal energy and listed on the AIM Italia market, and Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione SIIQ S.p.A. (IGD), one of the main players in Italy’s retail real estate market and listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, have signed an agreement for the supply of electricity generated through solar panels in three of IGD’s shopping centers. Based on the agreement three systems will be installed for a total capacity of 1.4 MWp at three different shopping centers: Katanè in Catania, La Torre in Palermo and Le Maioliche in Faenza. These systems will make it possible to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide by approximately 1,000 tons each year or approximately 25,000 tons over the life of the systems. The three systems will be installed in 2016 following the direct investment of Alea Energia S.p.A., a Gruppo Elettra Investimenti company, a subsidiary of which (EPC Alea Quotidia S.p.A.) will install the rooftop solar energy facilities which will then be leased to the shopping centers for 15 years. Alea Energia will manage the facilities by providing complete O&M services and will guarantee the generation of electricity over time which will allow the shopping centers to produce enough renewable energy to meet about one third of their energy needs at a fixed price for the next 15 years. In Catania and Palermo, specifically, a part of the solar energy panels will be installed on the newly built roofs of customer parking lots.
The Companies will consider the possibility of installing systems at other shopping centers owned by the IGD Group. This project fits with IGD SIIQ S.p.A.’s strategy for the Group’s sustainability which aims to increase the
efficiency of its properties and provide the centers’ tenants and visitors with an environmentally friendly and renewable source of energy; it is also in line with the steps taken over the last few years to contain energy consumption and reduce the retailers’ energy costs.
Fabio Massimo Bombacci, Chairman and CEO of Elettra Investimenti, commented: “Three years ago, when the period of government incentives was over, we embarked on a journey which resulted in the definition of a sustainable business model in Italy, which makes it possible to optimize the customers’ needs in terms of both energy savings and sustainability through the intelligent use of areas that are typically not utilized. We are happy to have begun this project with IGD, a company that is the Italian leader in its sector”
“IGD started to focus on corporate sustainability in 2010 and one of the key topics was the quality and efficiency of its shopping centers” Daniele Cabuli, IGD’s Chief Operating Officer stated. “We are, therefore, satisfied with this agreement that allows the Group to take another step forward in the reduction of consumption and emissions”.
