In 2001, Sebastiano Falesi, who is originally from Sicily, had recently graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan where he studied chemical engineering. There, he joined forces with two fellow engineers to launch a new business venture in the then-nascent field of renewable energy.
Youthful optimism paired with a clear and pioneering vision drove the steady growth of Fera (Fabbrica Energie Rinnovabili e Alternative). Today, the company employs around 60 people across its two locations.
In 2002, Fera submitted its first proposals to build wind farms in Italy, specifically in Abruzzo and Liguria. “When we started,” recalled Falesi, “there weren’t even any regulations governing this sector.” But instead of being a barrier, the legislative void and the growing public awareness of the need for renewable energy became an opportunity.
“We grew steadily between 2003 and 2013, it went really well,” said Falesi, “But then the market slowed down. There was a lot of uncertainty about the future of renewables and during that period we had to scale back our team.”
That period of uncertainty led the founders to pause and reflect, eventually deciding to explore new markets. “We realised we needed to diversify and reduce our exposure to market fluctuations,” he explained.
“When selecting potential countries, we looked at various factors like climate, growth potential, economic and currency stability, and the strength of democratic institutions. In the end, it came down to Canada and Australia.”
The final decision to open a branch in Australia came after one of the co-founders visited the country on holiday and was impressed by what he saw.
“In August 2019, my business partner landed in Melbourne just six months before the pandemic hit. Not ideal timing,” Falesi noted. “I didn’t make it out until late 2022. My kids, who were 13 and 14 at the time, didn’t want to leave Noto (Sicily) to move to Australia.”
Leaving a small town nestled between the sea and hills, along with friends and a familiar routine, wasn’t easy for the teenagers. But they agreed to a one-year trial. “After that first year, I had to sit down and negotiate another 12 months with them,” Falesi joked. His children, now in Year 10 and 11, have since decided to finish school in Australia before possibly returning to Italy.
The move turned out to be a rewarding experience for Falesi, both personally and professionally. Despite the initial challenges of navigating a very different system, he’s been able to draw on nearly 25 years of experience and the strong professional network he built during it.
In Australia, the process of building a wind farm takes longer than in Italy. “Even before starting the approval process, mandatory monitoring must be carried out for at least two years to assess the environmental and community impact,” he revealed. “From start to finish, it can take two to four years before actual planning begins.”
Other challenges include Australia’s weak electrical grid infrastructure and vast distances, all of which need to be factored into the planning process.
To get a feel for the local market, Fera Australia plans to launch two wind farms similar in scale to those built in Italy, before moving on to larger projects. “Our goal for the next three years is to complete the first wind farm and, at the same time, obtain approval for a major plant near Seymour, just over an hour north of Melbourne. We plan to install about 100 wind turbines there,” he said.
Community engagement has always been a cornerstone of Fera’s approach. “We’ve always believed in open dialogue with residents, involving them from the early planning stages to understand their needs and tailor our projects accordingly. When done early, this avoids resistance down the line.”
One initiative under consideration is to offset energy bills for residents affected by the visual impact of turbines. “If you can see the turbines from your home, we’ll cover your electricity costs,” Falesi explained. “Another idea is to allow the local community to invest in the projects, with guaranteed returns and no risk to their capital. Plus, we’d set up a community fund for local initiatives.”
Falesi and his team are brimming with ideas. With a forward-looking approach, Fera has already begun a vertical integration strategy, acquiring biogas and hydroelectric plants, expanding into solar energy and opening electric vehicle charging stations.
