In the debate about agrivoltaics and photovoltaic greenhouses, the central issue is no longer whether or not to invest, but how to do it profitably and sustainably. After years of incentives and support measures, the context is changing: it is no longer enough to chase the opportunity of the single tender. Today, it matters above all to build solid projects that are consistent with regulatory requirements, agronomically sustainable, and energy efficient.
In this scenario, it becomes crucial to move from an opportunistic logic to a structured industrial strategy.
This is where the experience of Idromeccanica Lucchini, which has been working on photovoltaic greenhouses since 2008, building a legacy of more than 15 years, fits in. A very clear approach: profit comes not simply from the installation of panels, but from the integrated combination of multiple operational levers.
The 4 levers of profit in photovoltaic greenhouses
According to the Lucchini model, an efficient photovoltaic greenhouse generates value through four main directions:
- Energy self-consumption
- Energy fed into the grid
- Agronomic performance
- Control (digital and non-digital)
It is the balance between these elements that determines the true profitability of the investment.
Self-consumption: the first real margin
The first lever is also the most concrete: energy that is not purchased.
Producing energy independently means directly reducing operating costs. In economic terms, this translates into an immediate and measurable margin.
To maximize this benefit, it is necessary to work on three levels:
- Efficient power generation
- Optimization of energy purchases
- Reducing OPEX: insulation, insulation and advanced air conditioning
A properly designed greenhouse minimizes energy exchange with the outside world, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the system.
Energy input: value each kWh
The second lever concerns excess energy produced and fed into the grid. Here the issue is not only technical, but also regulatory.
Proper enhancement depends on the ability to:
- Framing the most appropriate incentive model
- access the mechanisms provided by the Energy Services Manager
- Structure the investment in a way that is consistent with the requirements
Grants increasingly reward virtuous, consistent, integrated and sustainable projects. Therefore, it is crucial to set up a clear and compliant energy model from the start.
Agronomy: the heart remains production
A common mistake is to consider energy production as a priority over agricultural production. In reality, the real balance lies in keeping the focus on the core business: farming efficiently and with quality.
Lucchini has over the years developed solutions capable of making the two dimensions coexist.A practical and useful example comes from a study published in 2025 by the University of Lleida, which simulated the integration of semitransparent photovoltaic modules in greenhouses in climates such as Barcelona.
– 65% transparency compared to 50% transparency of traditional roofing
– increased production efficiency
– Expansion of the bouquet of cultivable crops
This shows that advanced design does not penalize agriculture, but can even improve its performance.
Digital control: the value multiplier
The fourth lever is often underestimated, but it is a true profit multiplier: control (digital and otherwise).
Bringing agricultural and energy production into dialogue is essential. Advanced IT systems make it possible to:
- optimize climate parameters
- Real-time management of energy flows
- improve agricultural productivity
- Increase the overall efficiency of the plant
This simultaneously acts on two lines of business, expanding the revenue base.
Toward Transition 5.0
The new “Transition 5.0” has clarified a now clear direction: today it is not enough to just install a system, it must be demonstrated that the investment produces a real and measurable energy improvement. The Plan has rewarded projects capable of reducing consumption by at least 3 percent on the production unit (or 5 percent on the process involved), pushing companies to integrate energy, automation and data control.
For a photovoltaic greenhouse, this approach is particularly attractive because it enhances projects in which the structure, PV system, possible storage, sensors, consumption monitoring, and energy management work as a single system.
In this framework-for example-the tax credit could go up to 45 percent for investments of up to 10 million euros, with additional surcharges linked to the use of high-efficiency modules.
The point, then, is not just to produce energy, but to use it well: ventilation, irrigation, shading, air conditioning, and other greenhouse services become all the more efficient the more the system is designed to self-consume and optimize available energy.
This is where the photovoltaic greenhouse stops being just an agricultural structure and becomes a true energy efficiency platform.
A cultural (as well as technical) issue
Photovoltaic greenhouses can be truly profitable, but only if they are managed with expertise and vision. There is no longer a risk-free investment paradigm: public support will continue, but it will increasingly require planning, consistency, and ability to execute.
A change in approach is therefore vital; less dependence on incentives, more ability to build value over time.
Conclusion: profit yes, but consistent
The final message is crystal clear: profit exists, but it has to be built.
Through self-consumption, energy valorization, agronomic efficiency and digital control, photovoltaic greenhouses can generate concrete and lasting ROIs. But everything must be consistent, through fruitful dialogue:
- between agricultural and energy production
- Between business model and incentives
- Between economic goals and sustainability
This consistency is also key to building confidence in financial systems and attracting investment.
In the magma of our present, the photovoltaic greenhouse is increasingly a strategic infrastructure. And, if designed correctly, it represents one of the most robust opportunities for the future of agriculture.
