Italian Constitutional Court limits solar energy in agricultural landscapes

The Italian Constitutional Court has issued ruling 156 of 2026, establishing that the interest in developing renewable energy plants does not automatically override the constitutional protection of the landscape, including agricultural landscapes. This decision impacts regions such as Maremma and Val di Cornia, where numerous large-scale photovoltaic and agrivoltaic projects have been proposed.

The ruling upholds limits on traditional ground-mounted photovoltaic modules in agricultural zones, as established by the 2024 Agriculture Decree. However, it distinguishes between traditional solar and agrivoltaic systems, the latter of which must allow for continued agricultural or pastoral activities. The court's decision does not immediately cancel existing large-scale projects that have already entered specific authorization or environmental assessment procedures.