Future of Italy's PV industry in Government hands

According to a recent study of I-com research institute, the possible impact and contribution of Solar PV Industry on Italian Market would be quantifiable in Italy by an esteemed 22 billion in value added for the Italian economy, 45 thousand jobs for the next twenty years and 6 million tonnes less CO2.

Nevertheless, Italy's photovoltaic sector, in comparison to other markets, is still far behind in development. In 2009 Italy almost doubled installed capacity compared to previous years and Italy since year end 2009 approached the level of 1000 MW installed (760,4 MW within nuovo conto energia), but compared to other countries like Germany or Japan, such levels were already surpassed six years ago, back in 2004.

Italian Solar PV Industry in terms of employment and economic value added is already bearing its first fruits. Now, in coming weeks, it us up to the Italian government to finally decide on the new incentive regime of PV to follow 2010 in order to consolidate the development of an area that could contribute significantly to the competitiveness of Italy.


Sources: Energia-blog | Authors:  9Colonne, I-com research institute.

Solar Evolution — The beginning of a new era for solar power

"A new era for solar power is approaching. Long derided as uneconomic, it is gaining ground as technologies improve and the cost of traditional energy sources rises.Within three to seven years, unsubsidized solar power could cost no more to end customers in many markets, such as California and Italy, than electricity generated by fossil fuels or by renewable alternatives to solar. By 2020, global installed solar capacity could be 20 to 40 times its level today."

McKinsey & Company | Authors: Peter Lorenz, Dickon Pinner, and Thomas Seitz

Source: Climate Change Special Initiative and McKinsey Quarterly

Forecast — The growing competitiveness of solar power: McKinsey forecasts grid parity within the next three to seven years. This means that solar energy's unsubsidized cost to end users will approach the cost of conventional electricity in a number of markets, including parts of the United States (California and the Southwest), as well as Italy, Japan and Spain.

Outlook — The global solar market in 2020: According to McKinsey, the worldwide installed global solar capacity will grow by roughly 30 to 35 percent a year, from 10 gigawatts today to about 200 gigawatts in 2020.

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLES:

McKinsey Quarterly — The economics of solar power (LINK);
McKinsey Quarterly — Evaluating the potential of solar technologies (LINK1, 2).