Italy

After earmarking €4 million last year, Italy’s most dynamic and affleunt region is further supporting solar+storage installations through a rebate scheme.

The Italian Expo features a wide programme of conferences on PV and storage. The conferences hosted at Key Solar and Key Storage aim to analyze the changes that the sector is facing at national and international level.

Valmont’s global manufacturing capabilities and utility customer base is expected to help the Italian company expand activity and market share.

The Italian wind energy specialist has joined forces with UK-based investment firm Quercus Investment Partners LLP to acquire another 150 MW of PV plants in Italy.

Despite recent announcements for large-scale solar projects across Italy, the country has seen just residential and commercial and industrial projects come online in 2018. Meanwhile, solar has been able to cover 8% of national demand in the first half of this year.

The Italian fund will use the money to refinance its current PV plant portfolio consisting of 101 MW of facilities, and to finance further acquisitions planned by the end of this year.

Italian PV asset manager, Terra Firma has sold its solar energy platform for €1.3 billion to Italian infrastructure investor, F2i.

The 10% reduction in GST is an example to the UK government, which is seeking suggestions on how to drive solar take-up, but manufacturers are already calling for further reductions to fire battery storage in the nation.

Italy-based Glass to Power has raised €2.25 million via crowdfunding to advance its plans for the roll out of an industrial production line for its transparent solar PV windows. The product is expected to be marketed in 2019.

Despite recent efforts to boost its solar energy business, the Italian oil giant has decided not to acquire RTR’s 343 MW solar plant portfolio.