Giannutri Solar Project
The Context
Covering just 2.6 km², the island of Giannutri is a protected natural area located off the Tuscan coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Although only a small permanent population lives on the island, visitor numbers increase significantly during the summer months.
The project involved the construction of a solar plant mounted on a steel canopy, combined with a battery energy storage system, to meet the island’s electricity demand while enabling the gradual replacement of existing diesel generators
The Challenge
The limited size of the island and the associated logistical constraints presented a unique engineering challenge. Reflections from the photovoltaic panels had the potential to interfere with operations at the island’s only heliport.
To address this issue, SELT designed and constructed a remotely controlled motorised retractable canopy covering approximately 400 m². The system enables safe helicopter operations while maintaining the performance of the solar installation.
A Flexible Team
The ability of SELT’s engineering team to develop a tailored technical solution enabled the successful completion of this particularly sensitive project.
By investing additional engineering expertise and resources beyond the original project scope, SELT delivered a solution that balanced operational requirements with the objective of supporting a more sustainable energy supply for the island.
Project Highlights
- Construction of a solar plant with battery energy storage
- Construction of civil works and structural steelwork
- Design and construction of a motorised retractable canopy
