Solar Self-Generation: A Bridge to Energy
What Italy Teaches Argentine Industrial Parks
By Dario H. Pellegrini | APIA Representative in Italy (https://apia.ar)
As the representative of the Argentine Industrial Parks Association (APIA) in Italy, I have seen firsthand how this country has promoted electricity generation from renewable sources at the point of consumption. In recent years, on-site photovoltaic self-consumption—especially through Comunità Energetiche Rinnovabili (Renewable Energy Communities, CER)—has become a key tool for companies, municipalities, and citizens to reduce costs and gain energy independence.
In Italy, CERs are collaborative structures that bring together individuals, SMEs, and public entities to generate and share renewable energy locally. Their success lies not only in technology, but in a governance model that ensures economic, environmental, and social benefits remain within the community.
I have visited projects such as Villanovaforru in Sardinia and San Nicola da Crissa in Calabria, which supply energy to everything from municipal buildings to small industries. They demonstrate that the energy transition is not exclusive to large power plants, but can emerge locally, through projects tailored to the territory.
In the words of Rodolfo Games, President of APIA:
“This collective way of organizing around solar energy is a strategic tool for industrial parks, both to reduce costs and to strengthen energy resilience.”
What Italy Can Teach Argentina
The Italian model is replicable. In Argentina, industrial parks can implement on-site photovoltaic solutions that combine local generation, direct consumption, and efficient collective management, with measurable results from day one.
Through the joint work between APIA and BIS Integraciones—an Argentine company specialized in energy solutions for industrial environments—we have identified six key aspects that support this opportunity:
1. Typical consumption scenario
Energy represents between 30% and 50% of operating costs. The alignment between peak consumption hours and peak solar generation enables high self-consumption without relying on costly storage.
2. Available surface potential
Rooftops and covered areas provide sufficient space to install multi-MWp systems, allowing projects to start with 50–200 kWp pilot plants and grow progressively.
3. Economic benefit
Savings mainly come from replacing purchased energy during peak hours. A 1 MWp system can generate between 1.5 and 1.7 GWh per year.
4. Increased reliability and peak management
Local generation strengthens the park’s electrical resilience and helps smooth consumption peaks, reducing pressure on infrastructure and contracted demand.
5. Modularity and scalability
The technology allows installed capacity to be expanded as needs grow, reducing initial investment.
6. Environmental impact
Each MWh generated avoids approximately 0.45 tons of CO₂, a valuable metric for ESG reporting and international competitiveness.
A Possible Bridge
The agreement signed between APIA and BIS Integraciones provides Argentine industrial parks with a window of opportunity to implement on-site photovoltaic projects with local technical support and the know-how gained from the Italian experience.
At APIA, we support the entire process: from consumption assessment and evaluation of available surfaces, to the design and implementation of systems that maximize self-consumption and ensure participatory governance.
The Opportunity Is Open
Italy shows us that decentralizing generation is both possible and profitable. Argentina has the human capital, physical space, and organizational capacity to do the same. Today, with the alliance between APIA and BIS Integraciones, industrial parks can take a firm step toward self-generating their energy, gaining competitiveness and sustainability.
