Energy and agriculture, economy and nature

Clean energy, better use of land and respect for the landscape are the cornerstones of the Arte Orto Energy project, which has built eleven photovoltaic greenhouse fields in the Santa Croce Camerina and Modica area, with a combined average output of more than 27,000 MWh a year.

The installations on greenhouses were built with full respect for the environment, preserving around 600 carob and olive trees replanted along the perimeter strips of the plants themselves, as well as conserving many native species and respecting characteristic features such as dry-stone walls.

The estate as a whole covers around 60 hectares, 10 of which are used for the photovoltaic greenhouses.

The greenhouses are formed by closing the side openings with polyethylene sheeting. The tilt of the solar panels leaves a usable space underneath ranging from 2.40 to 5.00 metres, which also allows fairly large ornamental plants to be grown. Agricultural production ranges from ornamental plants to vegetables.

At Santa Croce Camerina and Modica a particular ornamental dwarf palm is grown, very common in the Ragusa area and known in dialect as "scupazza", in the two varieties whose scientific names are Chamaerops humilis and Chamaerops excelsa; Santa Croce also produces aloe, both vera and arborescens. The vegetables grown to date are basil, parsley and green beans in many varieties, alongside a programme that provides for organic ginger production from the beginning of 2018. In the last farming year, output amounted to 3,800 quintals.

A winning combination: energy and quality agricultural production, a pairing developed through the expertise and skill of the Arte Orto Energy team.