Lease your land for photovoltaicwith a surface-right agreement.
30-year surface right, rent optionally fully upfront at signing. We look for plots of at least 4 hectares across Italy for photovoltaic, agrivoltaic and energy storage.
30 years of income, land that stays yours
Leasing your land means granting its use, not its ownership. For 30 years Sunscape builds and operates a photovoltaic, agrivoltaic or energy-storage plant on it, and you receive a rent set in writing: annual or, if you prefer, fully upfront at the signing of the notarial deed. And with agrivoltaic you can keep farming the land.
At the end of the contract, the plant is dismantled at our cost and the land returns to your full availability, free of works. The full permitting process, technical costs and final dismantling are on us.
How leasing your land for photovoltaic works
In the photovoltaic sector, "land lease" is the commercial term for the assignment of a surface right ("diritto di superficie", Italian civil code arts. 952 ff.): a legal instrument that allows building and operating a photovoltaic, agrivoltaic or energy-storage plant on land without acquiring its ownership. The owner receives rent, keeps ownership of the land throughout the contract and, with agrivoltaic configurations, can also keep farming it.
30-year term: stable, predictable income
The surface right typically runs for 30 years, aligned with the plant's useful life. Throughout this period the owner receives an annual rent set in writing in the contract, independent of plant revenues.
Keep ownership of your land
The owner remains the owner for the entire contract term. At the end, the land returns into full availability, generally already restored: the obligation to remove the plant at the end of the term lies with Sunscape.
Competitive rent, optionally upfront at signing
We offer flexible formulas: annual rent, or fully upfront at signing (lump sum). The upfront option allows the owner to access immediate liquidity equivalent to the full value of thirty years of rent.
All costs on us
Permitting, grid connection, construction, operation, maintenance and final dismantling: every cost is entirely on us. The owner advances and guarantees nothing.
Technical requirements of the land
Not all land is suitable for a photovoltaic, agrivoltaic or energy-storage plant. We verify your land's suitability free of charge against a few key technical parameters. The more characteristics it meets, the higher the rent we can offer.
Total surface area
We look for land with a minimum surface of 4 hectares (40,000 sqm). Above this threshold, the larger the area, the higher the unit rent: economies of scale reduce fixed development costs.
Distance from the nearest MV substation
Grid connection is one of the largest development costs. Land near a medium-voltage (MV) substation or an existing line receives a significantly higher rent than isolated land.
Land-use designation
The land-use designation set by the municipal planning tool (PRG, PUC, PGT) defines the permitting path. Non-agricultural land (industrial, light-industrial, tertiary, "white zones") is usually faster to permit and receives higher rents.
Constraints and easements
Landscape, hydrogeological, archaeological constraints or easements can complicate or prevent the project. Fewer blocking constraints means a faster permitting path and therefore a better rent.
Road accessibility
Plant construction requires access for heavy vehicles. Land served by paved roads or well-maintained dirt roads gets higher valuations than land reachable only via informal tracks.
Moderate slope and no trees
Installing the structures requires flat terrain or terrain with a moderate slope: steep gradients raise costs and reduce the usable surface. The land must also be free of trees, especially tall ones, which would create shading and high clearing costs.
Agrivoltaic: lease the land and keep farming
Next-generation agrivoltaic allows you to keep farming under the photovoltaic panels. It's an ideal formula for owners who want additional income without giving up the agricultural production of the land.
What next-generation agrivoltaic is
It's a plant configuration where panels are raised and spaced so that farming activity can continue under and between the rows. Structures follow the requirements of the Italian Agrivoltaic Decree (D.M. 22 December 2023) and of the NRRP.
Crops and energy generation on the same plot
On the same plot, crops and electricity generation coexist. The owner (or the agricultural tenant) keeps generating income from agriculture while Sunscape operates the solar plant and pays the surface-right rent.
Competitive rent even with active farming
The rent recognised for agrivoltaic is competitive against traditional photovoltaic and adds to the land's agricultural income. The "farming + energy" combination maximises the total return on the land.
What land can be leased
Land within 350 metres of industrial facilities
Italian rules on suitable areas favour land adjacent to productive zones: a plot within 350 metres of industrial plants or warehouses benefits from a faster permitting path and therefore receives significantly higher rents.
Land within 300 metres of motorways
The strip within 300 metres of motorways is also among the preferred areas for development: these zones are already affected by infrastructure, so a plant has a lower landscape impact and permitting is easier.
Agricultural land free of landscape constraints, 4+ hectares
Flat agricultural land, typically arable or uncultivated, with a minimum surface of 4 hectares and free of landscape constraints. Even if currently unused, it can immediately become a source of stable income for the next 30 years.
Industrial, light-industrial or non-agricultural land
Areas with industrial, light-industrial or otherwise non-agricultural designation (including "white zones" and former quarries) are the fastest to permit and receive higher rents. Ideal for owners of unused areas inside productive zones.
How to lease land to Sunscape in 5 steps
Get in touch
Send us your cadastral data and a description of your land via the online form or by email to terreni@sunscape.it. No commitment and no cost.
Eligibility analysis and offer
We verify zoning constraints, distance to the grid and accessibility free of charge. If the land is suitable, we contact you to present our rent offer (annual or upfront).
Grid feasibility check
We submit a formal grid connection request to the network operator to confirm project feasibility. Typically 100–150 business days.
Preliminary agreement
With a positive result, we proceed with the notarial signing of the preliminary surface-right contract, with payment of a confirmatory deposit to the owner.
Final deed
Once all permits are obtained, we proceed with the final notarial deed constituting the surface right. Payments start as per contract terms.
The advantages of leasing to Sunscape
A single counterpart, full transparency
We develop the project ourselves and accompany you with full transparency throughout the process: from the first site visit to the final deed you always deal with one single counterpart, with no hand-offs and no percentages held back by intermediaries.
All costs on us
Permitting, grid connection, construction, operation, maintenance and final dismantling: every cost is on us. The owner advances and guarantees nothing.
Attractive rent and deposit at the preliminary
We recognise an attractive rent, set in writing, with a confirmatory deposit already at the notarial preliminary agreement. The rent — annual or even fully upfront at signing — starts with the final deed, once permits are obtained.
If you wish, keep farming with agrivoltaic
With our next-generation agrivoltaic solutions you can keep farming under and between the panels, retaining agricultural income on top of the rent. Two income sources on the same land.
Discover the sale option
If you prefer to sell the land outright, take a look at the sale option: agreed price, competitive deposits already during the process, balance at the final deed, a single counterpart and zero intermediaries.
Everything you need to know about leasing land for photovoltaic
How much can I earn by leasing my land for photovoltaic?
What's the difference between lease and surface right?
How long does the surface-right contract last?
When do I receive the first payment?
Can I receive the rent upfront at signing?
What happens at the end of the contract?
Can I keep farming the land with agrivoltaic?
Is it more convenient to sell or to lease the land?
Request a free offer for the lease of your land
Fill out the form on the Sell or lease your land page and we will get back to you with a tailored, free valuation of the rent. No commitment.