Italy
Italy is richly endowed with renewable energy sources that could be captured and utilized. Due to the high levels of sunshine that reach the Italy’s land surface, the Italian government has made solar energy technologies its top priority.
In order to promote the use of renewable energy sources in the generation of electricity, Italy has adopted the following measures:
• Priority access to the grid system is granted to electricity from renewables and CHP plants;
• An obligation for electricity generators to feed a given proportion of renewables
into the power system;
• Tradable green certificates (which are tradable commodities proving that cer- tain electricity is generated using renewables) are used to fulfill the renewables obligation;
• A FiT for solar PV exists. This is a fixed tariff, guaranteed for 20 years and adjusted annually for inflation.
In Italy, there is only one CSP plant in operation. Archimede CSP is a parabolic trough plant operating in Sicily, Italy. The plant produces steam (4.72 MW equivalent) sent to a combined-cycle steam turbine rated at 130 MW. This parabolic trough system is the first using molten salt as the heat transfer fluid. A 2-tank direct system will provide 8 h of thermal storage.
Solar Power Installed Capacity
In 2011, the solar power capacity installed in the country reached 31 % of the total renewable capacity installed. In 2012, the total solar power capacity installed in the country reached 16,361 MW. The solar power capacity represents 13.15 % of the total power capacity installed in the country in 2012 and 38.56 % of the total renewables capacity installed. The country occupies the place number two at world and regional levels, according to the total solar power capacity installed. During the past ten years, the country increased the solar power capacity installed in each of them.
As of end 2010, however, only 2.3 GW had been effectively connected to the grid. According to the Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaic until 2015 report, in 2011, the total amount of solar power installations is expected to range from 3 to 5 GW. Between 2 and 3 GW of projects installed during 2010 have been already connected (following the “Salva Alcoa” Decree). Around 800 MW have been installed under the Third Conto Energia. It is difficult to predict what additional capacity will be connected under the Forth Conto Energia applicable from June 2011 onward.
Electricity Generation Using Solar Energy
The evolution of the generation of electricity in Italy using solar energy during the period 2008–2012 is shown in Fig. 4.15.
According to Fig. 4.15, the generation of electricity in Italy using solar energy during the period 2008–2012 increased 97.4-fold. It is expected that the participation of solar energy for the generation of electricity in Italy will continue increas- ing during the coming years.