Parco Nord PV plant (Bresso)

The Foglia footbridge as seen from Via Berbera

Photovoltaic Innovation in the Heart of Milan: The MUSA Project at Parco Nord

 

The MIB-SOLAR Centre of the University of Milan-Bicocca, as part of the MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action) project and in close collaboration with EDISON, has completed a major experimental installation: a photovoltaic system integrated into the “Paolo Foglia” footbridge within Milan’s Parco Nord.

 

An Open-Air Urban Workshop

 

The project is not merely a sustainable infrastructure initiative, but a fully-fledged research laboratory coordinated by the MIB-SOLAR centre within the Department of Materials Science. The aim is to study the performance of photovoltaic technologies in complex urban settings, characterised by sub-optimal orientations and pre-existing structural constraints.

 

Technical Details of the System

 

The facility covers an area of 102 m² along the footbridge spanning Via Berbera (between Milan and Bresso). Key details include:

PV panels seen from above

 

PV panels seen from the walkway

Total capacity: 22.32 kWp.

Expected output: approximately 20 MWh per year.

Module Configuration: 48 modules of three different types were installed to compare their performance:

  • 24 Class A modules (445 W): installed horizontally (0° tilt) to test performance without any tilt.
  • 12 high-efficiency modules (580 W): to maximise output in confined spaces.
  • 12 standard modules (390 W): used as a control benchmark.

The plant is equipped with a dedicated weather station and a continuous monitoring system via the Huawei FusionSolar platform.

The data collected in the field is constantly cross-referenced with tests carried out at the MIB-SOLAR centre’s outdoor testing station.

The project, co-funded by the PNRR, involves the active participation of Parco Nord Milano as the host organisation. This initiative demonstrates how the synergy between academic research (MIB-SOLAR), industrial partners (Edison), and local institutions can transform urban infrastructure into hubs of innovation and environmental sustainability.

You can watch an interview with Prof. Binetti, director of the Mib-solar centre, in this video produced by Edison and filmed on the Passerella Foglia.