By Isabella Kaminski

Italian solar power generator RTR has acquired a further 10 solar PV plants from Terna, the operator and principal owner of Italy’s high-voltage grid. The acquisition will add up to 78 MW to RTR’s installed solar capacity, bringing it to up to 241 MW.

The largest solar plants in the new portfolio are located in Emilia Romagna (Alfonsine), Lazio (Lanuvio) and Puglia (Troia and Deliceto), all of which are currently under construction.

In March 2011, private equity firm Terra Firma acquired the RTR Group, a portfolio of PV plants from Terna with total a installed capacity of 144 MW. In May, RTR announced the acquisition of plants from Sorgenia Solar, adding a further 19MW to its total installed capacity.

Guy Hands, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Terra Firma, says: “We see RTR as a platform upon which to build a leading renewable energy business in Italy. The acquisition of more quality PV plants from Terna helps give RTR scale in the solar market. We expect to make further acquisitions in renewable energy in Italy, a sector we consider is very attractive.”