Italy

Etrion has connected 4.2 MW (DC) of solar capacity to the grid at two sites in Japan’s Aomori prefecture. The two arrays are part of a 9.5 MW project spanning four locations.

The Italian solar market has registered a 19% year-on-year growth in the first five months of this year. In May alone, newly installed PV power totaled 95.2 MW.

Funded by the EU with €14 million ($14.9 million), the AMPERE project was launched at Enel Green Power’s PV module manufacturer 3SUN’s headquarters in Catania, Sicily. Further funding of €14.1 million currently under evaluation.

The Italian government has decided that PV installations up to 3 kW relying on irregular or non-certified components will maintain 80% of the incentive amount granted by the Conto Energia.

The rules were harmonized with the regulation for revamping and repowering of PV systems issued by the GSE in March.

The Italian fund was able to reach €250 million in funding through its fourth and final financing round.

As it continues to consolidate, the Spanish solar power company is on track to expand its PV portfolio.

A report published by the Energy and Strategy Group at the Polytechnic University of Milan forecasts that a further 4.4 GW of renewable energy generation capacity could be installed in Italy in the period 2017-2020. Solar and wind are expected to have the largest share.

In the country’s new energy strategy, the Italian government is planning to phase-out coal power plants starting 2025, and to support utility-scale PV projects through long-term PPAs.

The Italian fund announced the closing of its third financing round. To date, the fund has raised approximately €210 million.