Energy and Environment

Enel, in Cancello ed Arnone the solar plant coexists with the Roman villa

Archaeological discoveries have not stopped the investment in clean energy, but it has also been possible to coexist with a Park

13 August 2025

3' min read

Combining a solar power plant with an archaeological area and a green space is not something that happens very often. It was possible, however, in Cancello ed Arnone, a municipality of 5,729 inhabitants in the province of Caserta, where Enel landed a few years ago with the project of a mega-plant for the production of energy from alternative sources.

The project, which is part of the Group's strategy to contribute to the gradual decarbonisation, concerns the construction of a solar park with a total capacity of 13.5 MWp, counting on more than 24 thousand double-sided panels: efficient modules because they are able to capture solar energy from both sides. It is envisaged in the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, which allocates investment of 22 billion to Italy, of which about 4 billion on renewables.

The project started in 2020 and the park has recently reached full operation: it produces energy amounting to about 25 GWh per year with a corresponding saving in terms of pollutant emissions of about 10 thousand tonnes of CO2. The plant is ready to meet the energy needs of about 9 thousand households.

But the realisation of the work did not always have an easy life. During the so-called preventive archaeology work, conducted on the area in close coordination with the scientific direction of the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Caserta and Benevento, the archaeologists of the Enel division first found a few archaeological finds and then came across an ancient Roman villa.

What to do? How to reconcile the innovative project with the protection and rediscovery of traces of the past? Usually, in Italy, circumstances of this kind lead to work being halted, sites being abandoned, postponing both the construction of new works and the rediscovery of old ones until 'better' times. In Cancello ed Arnone, for once Enel has managed to go ahead on both fronts. Having perimetered the area of the archaeological site and created a safety corridor around it for a total of 1,500 metres, the Superintendency gave the go-ahead for the two plants to coexist side by side.

The solar park is now a reality and is operational. Among other things, it was built as part of the Scelta Rinnovabile (Renewable Choice) initiative, with Enel's crowdfunding system that allows citizens to actively participate in the construction of new renewable energy plants through remunerative financing, with which they can concretely contribute to the energy transition while benefiting from lasting economic returns. Moreover, still on the subject of direct and indirect benefits for the territory, Enel has chosen to employ local suppliers and workers in civil and electrical engineering activities on the construction site.

Meanwhile, archaeological excavations have brought to light structures typical of a rural settlement: floors, large terracotta containers for food storage, amphorae for water and wall elements. Finds that offer scholars a valuable window on the settlement dynamics of the Ager Falernus, the historical agro-agro of northern Campania established in 318 B.C. between Mount Massico and the Volturno along the Appian Way. Now the area is waiting to be divided up and handed over by Enel to the Ministry of Culture and the Superintendency of Archaeological Heritage so that the restoration work can be completed and its management can begin.

Finally, other interventions benefiting the community of Cancello ed Arnone were added, including the redevelopment of the Caricchiano oasis - a green space at the municipality - through an area equipped with spaces suitable for sport fishing, events, adventure park activities, and picnic area.

Three different interventions to take a step towards decarbonisation at the same time, one to protect history and the other to improve the quality of leisure time in a suburban centre in the Mezzogiorno.