Lifecicle Analysis of a BIPV system installed in Italy

From University Researchers from Ferrara University a lifecicle analysis for a BIPV system in Italy.

ICI Tax on solar farms in Italy - Concern among investors

Great concern among the investors in pohotovoltaic plants in Italy after the decision taken by the Internal Revenue Service (in Italy: Agenzia delle Entrate) to consider PV plants as regular industrial sites.
Under this classification, ground-based PV plants are due to pay the "ICI" tax, namely a "Town Tax on Real Estate" a hundred times higher than if PV plants sites were to be classified as farm-land sites, as it was before. The economic impact would be dramatic, enough to turn down the best IRR-project and to stop any further investment in ground-based PV plants.
The Italian Solar Association "Assosolare" immediately posted a letter to the Revenue Authority and called a meeting to discuss the issue with the Government. In the meantime, ready-to-build solar farms developers are setting up informal negotiations with the local Authorities on a lower-than-formally-due level of tax. This could both grant a go for the project and satisfy the local authorities' hustle for cash from "rich" PV plants. The Classic Italian way to cut corners and speed up the beurocracy.

Photovoltaic in Slovakia

9 Feb 2009. The Slovakian Photovoltaic market received a boost from the new Fedd-In-Tariff Plan, recently approved by the Government. The FIT plan is due for 15 years from the PV plant grid-connection and provides a rich 0,45 €/kWh feed-in-tariff. With an Irradiation yeld between 1.100 and 1.400 kWh/sqm, the incentivating plan appears extremely profitable for investors. The Slovak RE Agency looks forward for many MW to be realizaed in 2009. (extracts from Italian ZeroemissionTV).

SunPower to design, build 2.2-MW PV plant in Tolentino (MC) - Italy

Sounds interesting this post about a 2,2 MW plant in Marche, not among the southernmost Regions of Italy. Thanks to API Energia, one of the private oil companies in Italy starting to diversify into clean energy. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Read the full articl form PV news:
Buon giorno, Italia! SunPower to design, build 2.2-MW PV plant in Tolentino - Photovoltaics International

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Incredible growth in Spanish solar market in 2008

From Solarplaza.com Jan 21, 2009: The Spanish PV market grew by more than 2661 Megawatts of new installed power in 2008. As a result, the global PV market has grown by around 5600 Megawatts. This enormous 100% increase compared with the 2007 figure explains part of the scarcity and high module prices in 2008. But, with a cap of 500 MW in 2009, it also means that the Spanish market will decrease in size by at least 80% (or more than 2100 MW) this year.
And how about Italy?
The most attractive feed-in tariffs can now be found in Italy. The market is growing rapidly as investors have discovered the opportunities, certainly with currently decreasing module prices. In terms of size, Italy will still be smaller than Spain in 2009, but with many projects under development, Italy could become the second largest market in the world in 2010.
Our comment: as far as the module prices are declining, the costs of licensing are rocketing - reaching easily 200 €/kW for a suitable one-MW spot in Southern Italy. But that's the demand-supply game in increasing demand state. However, roumors say that - thanks to the credit crunch - some large overseas investors have been requested to slow down the use of leverage for new PV plants.

Poly silicon prices going down

From Solarplaza.com - Rotterdam Netherland

Interesting developments are taking place in the crystalline solar PV sector as well. High demand for, and shortages of, poly silicon over the last two years have attracted new poly manufacturers, and led to expansion plans among existing players. The rapid growth in poly silicon production capacity (partly in China) is now resulting in actual output, on top of which the semiconductor industry is seeing revenues decline due to the economic slowdown. As a result, poly silicon prices have fallen by 50% on the spot market over the past four weeks, and some insiders see prices dropping to less than $ 100/kg soon. That will mean a 75% reduction in perhaps just a few months. Of course, this will spell good news for the price of crystalline solar modules, which have already dropped to € 2.50/Wp or less for tier one manufacturers, with delivery in 2009. And with poly silicon at $ 100/kg, a further drop is possible, if not probable. There are even Chinese tier two manufacturers that expect, and are even offering, prices of € 2 - € 2.20/Wp for the second half of 2009. This is, of course, good news for the market. These lower prices will bring return on investment for ground-mounted projects in Germany to around 7-8%. In Italy, these module prices will result in much higher ROIs. Thus, crystalline PV modules will be an attractive, reliable and proven proposition for ground-mounted PV systems. This scenario could result in strong growth in the German PV market, which has no cap, and will therefore remain the biggest, most stable and most attractive PV market in the world.

SunPower signs 130MW deal with Italian PV integrator - Photovoltaics International

SunPower signs 130MW deal with Italian PV integrator - Photovoltaics International

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