The European Investment Bank (EIB) is to provide €49 million to support Iniziative Bresciane (INBRE), a small hydropower producer and project developer, in enhancing and restoring 13 river weirs and installing 12 small run-of-river plants on the Arno river in Tuscany, Italy. With more than 25 years of experience in the development of hydro projects, INBRE will lend on the funds to Iniziative Toscane (Intos), which will be responsible for building the plants and restoring the weirs. The financing will enable INBRE to restore the water management infrastructure of the Arno to improve the region's climate resilience, including through the reforestation of adjacent areas, the EIB announced on 15 November. The financing will also aim to reduce the environmental impact of pre-existing architectural elements, and preserve local biodiversity, it said. The operation will result in the addition of almost 10 MW of capacity, with an estimated annual production of 55 GWh, as well as further improving the flood safety of the Arno. The EIB estimates that these plants will provide enough electricity to supply nearly 22 600 households a year. When implementing the project, special care will be taken regarding the conservation of historical heritage in the areas of Sieci, Compiobbi, San Niccolo and Iso-lotto, by contributing to the development of flood prevention on the Lungarno, the EIB has said.
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