Tenaris's solar projects in Europe have entered a new stage. In Italy, two photovoltaic plants in Arcore and Sabbio, with a combined peak capacity of 10 MW, went live this year. In Romania, the 20 MW Călărași solar park, the country's largest self-consumption solar project, has been in stable commercial operation since September 2025. The two projects face a common challenge: integrating a variable energy source into industrial operations that run on a very different rhythm.

They are part of a broader strategy. Tenaris manufactures steel tubes using electric furnaces, which makes it electricity-intensive. In just a few years, renewable sources went from 0% to 25% of its total electricity consumption in 2025. Its largest projects are wind farms in Argentina, and its portfolio also includes the Qingdao solar park in China. The company has committed to reducing its CO₂ emissions intensity by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018. By 2025, it had achieved a 19% reduction.

Bringing the Italian plants online took time. "The project, from the very beginning to the final connection to the national grid, took a lot of time. For all the colleagues involved in the process, the kick-off of production was really satisfactory," says Marco Geneletti, Energy Senior Director at Tenaris.

The first months of operation have confirmed the design assumptions. "So far, the main KPIs are in line with expectations," he says.

The plants did not require a new management system. "In Italy, Tenaris has a team dedicated to managing energy flows with the national grid. From this standpoint, the new photovoltaic plants have been integrated into the already consolidated processes developed in Dalmine for the gas-fired power plant management."

Geneletti also explains why solar power makes sense in a European industrial setting: "Renewable energy sources are an effective opportunity to differentiate the energy production mix, to contain energy costs, especially in Europe, where energy costs are extremely high, and to contribute to the decarbonization process."

Generation is only part of the picture. Across its operations, Tenaris has invested 147 million dollars in energy efficiency over the past four years.

The Călărași park was inaugurated in April 2025. The step from commissioning to regular operation was demanding. "Before entering commercial operation, the plant had to complete an intensive testing period in coordination with the Romanian transmission system operator, validating control systems, dispatch capabilities, and compliance with strict grid requirements," explains Ignacio Ristorto, Energy Senior Manager at Tenaris. "Managing the vast amount of data generated by approximately 35,000 solar panels was another important challenge."

The team kept improving the plant after start-up. "By combining advanced infrastructure, digital tools, and operational expertise, we implemented new dispatch strategies that increased energy production by approximately 5%."

Ristorto is candid about the first year. "After a full cycle of seasons, we can say that the project has performed slightly below our initial expectations. Nevertheless, it has successfully demonstrated the value of integrating renewable energy directly into an industrial operation." The team faced technical issues, including a problem with one of the park's six power transformers, and took corrective action. "Today, those issues have been resolved, and the plant is operating at a stable rhythm. As a result, we expect the contribution of solar generation to increase during the current budget year."

The Călărași steel shop has one key advantage: its electricity demand is much higher than what the park generates. "This means that virtually all the renewable energy produced can be directly consumed on site, maximizing self-consumption and reducing electricity purchases from the grid," says Ristorto. To manage a variable source within a complex industrial operation, the team added a 24/7 dispatch center to its existing structure to monitor performance, optimize production, and ensure the plant runs reliably.

The project also shows the size of the task ahead. "Despite being the largest project of its kind in the country, the solar park currently covers around 8% of the steel shop's electricity needs. While this is a meaningful contribution, it also highlights that there is no single solution to the energy challenges facing European industry."

Even so, Ristorto sees the park as a reference point for the country: "We hope the Călărași project can serve as an example for other industrial companies in Romania, demonstrating that large-scale renewable projects are technically feasible and operationally reliable."

"Although the projects differ significantly in size and context, we maintained close collaboration, particularly with our colleagues in Italy. We exchanged experiences on technical solutions, regulatory aspects, and project execution, which helped us accelerate our learning process," says Ristorto.

Ristorto believes that Călărași's experience in optimizing operation and maintenance can help future projects produce energy efficiently and at low cost.

He also credits the people behind the project. "We had colleagues from many different areas working together, often outside their usual responsibilities, because they genuinely wanted to see the project succeed. Many of the technical, regulatory, and operational challenges were new to us, and the solutions were developed through collaboration and shared learning across teams."

For Ristorto, solar power is one part of a broader effort. "Achieving 30% CO₂ reduction on EAF technology is a demanding challenge that will require a combination of renewable generation and storage, energy efficiency, and technological innovation," he says. "In a context of persistently high energy prices, particularly in Europe, investments in renewable generation, energy efficiency, and innovative technologies remain essential to protect industrial competitiveness."

In Italy, the next phase is already underway. "We are currently working on some new photovoltaic plants to be installed in Italy in the coming years," says Geneletti. "They will be installed in Dalmine, Costa Volpino, and Villamarzana sites." Tenaris's renewable pipeline also includes projects in Cartagena, Colombia.