5 June 2026
Creating long-term value from renewable energy assets goes beyond developing new projects. It also means investing in the performance, reliability and future of the assets we already operate.
Phoenix II is a major revamping and repowering programme delivered across 15 solar plants in Italy, demonstrating how existing renewable energy infrastructure can be modernised to continue supporting the country’s energy transition for decades to come.
The programme spans eight sites in Sicily and seven in Lazio, covering a combined installed capacity of 42.8 MWp. Over two and a half years, Cubico worked alongside specialist contractors, engineers and suppliers to upgrade key components across the portfolio, including solar modules, inverters, transformers, electrical infrastructure and monitoring systems.
In several locations, fixed structures were replaced with single-axis trackers, allowing solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day and capture more energy.
Modernising a Mature Solar Portfolio
Many of the sites included in Phoenix II were among Italy’s earlier generations of utility-scale solar plants. While the assets continued to perform well, advances in solar technology presented an opportunity to improve efficiency, increase generation and strengthen long-term operational performance.
The programme involved the removal of more than 455,000 solar modules and the installation of approximately 96,000 new, higher-efficiency panels. Alongside this, critical electrical equipment and monitoring systems were upgraded, helping to standardise technology across the Italian solar portfolio and improve remote monitoring and operational control.
In total, nine plants received additional generating capacity through repowering works, delivering an increase of 14.3 MWp.
Delivering More Clean Energy
The impact of the programme extends well beyond the replacement of equipment.
By combining repowering works with technology upgrades and operational improvements, Phoenix II is expected to increase energy production by more than 30%, while improving performance ratios by over 25%.
These improvements will enable the plants to generate more renewable electricity from the same sites, helping maximise the value of existing infrastructure while supporting Italy’s decarbonisation ambitions.
A Long-Term Investment
Phoenix II reflects Cubico’s long-term approach to ownership and asset management.
The programme brought together teams from operations, engineering, construction and asset management, alongside a network of specialist suppliers and contractors. In total, eight major contracts were managed covering EPC services, owner engineering and the supply of key equipment.
Beyond increasing generation today, the upgrades help position these assets for continued performance in the years ahead, extending their operational life and ensuring they remain reliable contributors to Italy’s renewable energy mix.
As renewable energy technologies continue to evolve, programmes such as Phoenix II demonstrate how existing assets can be enhanced and optimised, helping deliver more clean energy while making the most of infrastructure already in place.
