PV plant at the Parco del Marchese

At the Parco del Marchese pumping station in Laterza, Italy, Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP) has renewed and expanded its photovoltaic plant with Trinasolar NEG18R.28 modules, creating the largest solar-powered water pumping facility in Europe. This project is part of AQP’s wider energy transition strategy, aimed at improving sustainability across one of the most complex water infrastructures on the continent.

The plant’s capacity has grown from 1 MW to 2.6 MW, tripling its annual output to 3.7 GWh of clean electricity. During peak sunlight hours, the system now covers 25% of the station’s energy needs, significantly reducing reliance on grid power for the infrastructure that supplies central and southern Puglia with water.

The environmental benefits are equally remarkable: the upgrade enables an annual reduction of 1,140 tonnes of CO₂, improving air quality while lowering the station’s overall energy footprint. Sustainability also guided the construction process. Existing structures and ballast were reused, while decommissioned solar modules were sent to recycling facilities, where 98% of materials — including silicon, glass, aluminium, and plastics — were recovered.

Since first coming online in 2010, the photovoltaic plant has generated over 18 GWh of green energy, supporting the station’s pumping operations of up to 7,000 litres per second. With the addition of Trinasolar’s high-performance modules, the renewal ensures the continued contribution of solar energy to one of Europe’s most energy-intensive water systems, which consumes over 511 GWh annually.

By combining innovative solar technology with responsible environmental practices, the project demonstrates how Trinasolar is helping utilities like AQP deliver cleaner water and cleaner air, while advancing long-term sustainability goals.