EIB partners with Natixis CIB for Sicilian wind farm

The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a €97 million (around $108 million) finance contract with Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) and Libeccio S.r.l. to build a new wind farm in Sicily.

According to an EIB statement on Monday, Vento di Vino 2 project is set to commence operations by 2026 and have a capacity of 44.8 MW, supplying energy to over 56,000 Italian households. The financing also includes refinancing the existing Vento di Vino 1 wind farm, which has a capacity of 24 MW.

The green loan, structured on a project finance basis, comprises €42 million from the EIB and €55 million from Natixis CIB. This initiative supports the European Green Deal and REPowerEU goals, contributing to the decarbonisation of the energy sector. It is expected to create over 270 jobs in Sicily, enhancing regional economic development.

The project includes a combination of a new greenfield wind farm and the existing brownfield Vento di Vino 1 facility. The financing arrangement involves a mix of residual merchant risk and revenue from long-term contracts for difference.

EIB Director Alessandro Izzo highlighted the dual impact of the project on energy production and regional economic growth. Natixis CIB’s Roberto Massarenti praised the initiative for reinforcing their position in Italy’s renewable energy sector, while FERA Group and Libeccio representatives underscored its importance for the Italian energy transition and regional development.