Italian energy company Enel has launched four contests to design the power stations of the future.
 
The goal is to create power plants that are increasingly integrated in the landscape and open to the local area.
 
There will be four contests for the design of modern and efficient power plants necessary for the decommissioning of coal plants. The goal is to create energy hubs in which renewable sources such as solar photovoltaic, energy storage batteries and gas systems will coexist, increasingly integrated with the surrounding environment.
 
The company wants to reduce the impact of power plants on the landscape while making spaces available to local communities.
 
Participants are asked to present project ideas that respect the principles of sustainability and circular economy, through the reuse of existing structures, and which can be adapted to the different conversion phases of the plants.
 
“We are asking for the contribution of architects and designers for the realisation of what we would like to become icons of the energy transition,” said Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of Enel Green Power. “We are continuing along the path towards a new vision of energy, open to the territory, to local communities and which respects the principles of the circular economy, with power plants that are perfectly integrated with the surrounding environment. Therefore, with these contests, we would above all like to involve young talents who wish to contribute to Italy’s sustainable energy future.”
 
The contests concern four power plants – La Spezia, Fusina, Civitavecchia and Brindisi – and will be carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Genoa, IUAV of Venice, Tuscia and Salento.
 
To encourage wider involvement, the calls for tenders provide indications for the participation of young people under 40 and for gender equality. The projects will be evaluated by a commission composed of representatives from Enel, the universities and representatives of local communities.
 
The three best projects selected for each of the four tenders will be acquired by Enel and the winners will be entrusted with the architectural design of their proposal for the construction of the plants, for which the authorisation procedures are underway.
 
The procedures are entirely digital and candidates will be able to register, access the technical documentation and submit the proposals online.