Cavaliera hydraulic plant inaugurated in Ferrara to enhance flood safety

The Cavaliera hydraulic plant was officially inaugurated on September 22, 2026, in Malcantone di Stellata, within the municipality of Bondeno, Ferrara. This project represents the most significant hydraulic safety intervention funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for reclamation consortia.

With a total investment of 68.2 million euros—funded by European funds, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, and the Emilia-Romagna Region—the work was completed by the Burana Reclamation Consortium in less than two years. The infrastructure is designed to protect a 3,000 km² area, directly safeguarding 324,000 hectares and 335,000 residents, with indirect benefits for approximately one million people across the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, and Mantova.

The facility features 12 vertical axis pumps with a total power of 11 MW and a 132 kV power supply. Combined with the Pilastresi plant, it can manage a discharge flow of up to 110 m³/s during floods. The construction involved 65 companies and approximately 1,000 people, utilizing 16,378 cubic meters of concrete and 1,950 tons of steel.