Swiss multinational energy company Repower is looking further south giant worth 3 billion per year concentrated rotation, for more than half (1.7 billion) in Italy, which has more than 35 thousand customers in its portfolio. Yesterday, in Naples, the projects of the five start-up finalists for the special prize were revealed “Innovation and Tourism”.
Then, a jury consisting of topic leaders (Edoardo Colombo, Sara Roversi and Sergio Beraldo), journalists (including the director of Il Mattino, Roberto Napoletano), entrepreneurs and experts, selects the winning company which will be announced in just a few weeks. But the turn south by Swiss multinationals began some time ago, even in recent years, he said Fabio BocchiolaCEO of Repower Italia, is becoming increasingly prominent. For two reasons, he explained to Il Mattino: «The shift of the supply axis from Eastern Europe to the South and for exponential growthenergy produced with renewable energy».
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But growth that can’t completely replace other sources, such as gas?
“Of course. But in recent years we have had to experience how Russian gas has become less reliable by moving to African countries, such as Algeria, and to regasifier companies. This is all fine, but this does not automatically make us safe from future crises. The liquefied gas market exposes us, for example, to international price competition. In renewable energy, from this point of view, the situation is very different and easier to manage.”
But is wind or photovoltaic energy really reliable?
“Important progress is being made on batteries that can accumulate the excess energy produced by these factories, which would otherwise be wasted. But this does not solve all the problems, starting with the problem of autonomy: in this sector there is Chinese dominance. This is why we focus on hydraulic pumping systems: basically we use the excess energy from power plants to drive hydroelectric power plants. This way we can have a natural storage battery, which can immediately intervene in the event of a power outage.”
What drives Swiss multinationals to invest in the South?
“First of all, I would like to underline that our company has always had a strong focus on the South. We built our first wind farm in Basilicata and we are already involved in important projects, such as the Campolattaro hydroelectric plant, with an investment of one billion. We are also planning a new wind power plant in Lucera, Puglia. Overall, the planned projects, taking into account the projects already authorized and those in the pipeline, provide a total capacity of 112 MW, of which 45 are in the North and 67 in the South and on the islands with investments of 48 and 78 million euros respectively”.
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Let’s be honest, but doesn’t renewable power generation risk having a very serious impact on the region?
“This is a problem we are trying to address with innovative solutions. For example, a 60 megawatt photovoltaic system can cover 130 hectares of land and be built in just six months. The reality is that when a structure like this needs to be built, few companies call in an architect or landscape designer not only to minimize the impact but also to increase the resources in the area.”
Do you mean they could become a tourist attraction?
“I would like to tell you two cases. The first is our wind farm in the province of Trapani, where we have created a structure with a viewpoint that includes Favignana on one side and San Vito on the other, a stunning view. We have created a highway, a rest area and we also produce good, quality Vermentino oil. In Veneto, in addition to the classic agrovoltaic projects, we relaunched the cultivation of persicaria to produce vegetable dyes, a sector that was practically canceled due to the advent of chemicals. This is an innovative approach that must be encouraged.”
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Have you thought about public incentives?
“Not only that. This investment must be facilitated by creating systems that are not only efficient and productive but also aesthetically beautiful. Like the first power plants that in the 20th century were designed by architects. A path that must also be followed for renewable energy.”
Is this also the reason you chose Naples to launch the Special Repower Innovation & Tourism Awards?
«We want to identify and develop potential, trends and strategies to support tourism, focusing on the innovation of some of the best Italian start-ups in the sector. Projects from five finalist start-ups were presented. We have selected 5 startups from hundreds of applications collected because they are able to best interpret the relationship between the world of innovation and the world of tourism and are able to create value by intercepting the main development drivers in this sector. We want to make a real contribution to the tourism sector by outlining a growth perspective based on the main innovations available today. A systemic transformation capable of integrating technology, culture, infrastructure and human resources to make Italian tourism more resilient, smarter and sustainable.”
