Italian activists challenge Israeli-linked solar projects

Italian activists challenge Israeli-linked solar projects

Italian activists in a small Tuscan town have been protesting against a planned agrivoltaics park after tracing its ownership to Shikun & Binui, an Israeli company with ties to Israel's military. 

The campaign by Diritti In Palestina began in early September, when activists investigating the project in the town of Ribolla traced its ownership to the Tel Aviv-based group, which operates across real estate, energy and infrastructure.

Shikun & Binui Energy intends to build five solar power plants across Tuscany, a region in central Italy. To do so, the group has established five companies in Milan as special-purpose vehicles (SPVs), structures that make the projects’ ultimate ownership harder to trace. 

In documents seen by Middle East Eye, the land lease contracts are formally signed by one such company, SPV Energy 3.

The activists' investigation found that it had no employees and share capital of just €2,500.

Read more: ‘Our land is not for sale’: Italian activists challenge Israeli-linked solar projects