Research context
The durability of solar panels and their infrastructure is significantly impacted by environmental factors, including soil conditions that can accelerate electrochemical corrosion. Soil conductivity emerges as a critical factor in the corrosion process, influenced by water sources such as underground water with high salinity, capillary water with low salinity, and intermittent rainwater, which varies in chemical composition (e.g., pH) over time. Microbial-induced corrosion (MIC) in soil further complicates this scenario, posing challenges for underground and submerged metallic structures, including those associated with photovoltaic systems.

To address MIC, a novel multiparametric probe is testing by RSE, developed in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano and AMEL Srl. The probe measures various electrochemical parameters, including soil conductivity, redox potential, free corrosion potential, and biofilm formation. RSE, together with interested industrial partners, intends to continue validating this type of innovative probe at various sites in Italy and Europe, and with various materials for application in agrivoltaics. The collaboration also aims to deepen RSE’s and the scientific community’s expertise on microbiological corrosion in soils and on structural materials for photovoltaic panels to be used in agrivoltaics. The collaboration target is to develop and validate a real-time monitoring system for the environmental impact on metal structures and soil quality for agronomic purposes. The experimental period to be carried out jointly will start after the agreement has been finalized and will end in November 2027.

Activities to Be Carried Out by the Partner
The selected Partner shall carry out corrosion testing and soil characterization activities at a site of its own choosing, in collaboration with RSE. For this purpose, the selected Partner shall bear the cost of purchasing six multiparametric electrochemical monitoring probes. Three probes will be arranged in a system for experimentation by RSE and other three probes for a parallel experimentation in a site selected by the partner.
Each system is equipped with electrochemical monitoring probes for the assessment of soil electrochemical parameters, including, at least:
1. conductivity,
2. redox potential,
3. biofilm sensor,
4. temperature.
The Partner shall enter into a specific non-remunerated collaboration agreement, the terms and conditions of which shall be agreed upon at a later stage.

Activities to Be Carried Out by RSE
RSE will organize corrosion testing using the monitoring systems and will conduct experimental activities in parallel with those of the Partner. RSE will also provide, at no cost to the Partner, specialist support for carrying out the corrosion tests and for interpreting the data generated by the monitoring systems.
RSE will perform microbiological and sequencing analyses for the study of biofilm formation on samples produced by both RSE and the Partner.
Each experimental activity is expected to last approximately one month. Tests will be carried out using different soil types and soil moisture conditions in order to evaluate their influence on microbial activity.

All data collected will be shared with the Partner. Any dissemination of results will be agreed jointly by the scientific coordinators within the future collaboration agreement.

Study Results
The objective of the study is to define the scope and limitations of monitoring instrumentation when applied to cases of industrial interest.

Expression of Interest
All interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest in written form by email to the following addresses: Marcella.balordi@rse-web.it, francesco.apadula@rse-web.it, and pierangela.cristiani@rse-web.it, and pierangela.cristiani@rse-web.it no later than 30 03 2026 (the date will be fifteen days after publishing the expression of interest). The expression of interest shall include telephone and email contact details of a designated contact person, as well as a brief description of the Company/Institution interested in the collaboration.

Evaluation of Proposals
Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the principles of transparency and impartiality by a committee appointed after the receipt of all applications. The committee will carry out a comparative assessment of the proposals received, in compliance with the criteria set out in the attached document.
A maximum of three proposals will be admitted to the experimental activities. In the event of equal scores, proposals will be accepted according to the chronological order of submission.

Execution of the Collaboration Agreement
RSE reserves the right not to proceed with the process should no application be deemed suitable in relation to the subject matter of this call. RSE also reserves the right to suspend or withdraw from the procedure, as well as to reopen the submission deadline or launch a new procedure, where duly justified.