Energy

Solar

In our Country (Italy) mean annual solar radiation ranges from 3.6 kW per square metre in the Po river plain area, to 4.7 kW in Central-Southern Italy, to 5.4 kW in Sicily: consequently some regions have a production potential that is very high, however, it can be said that the entire national territory is characterized by very favourable conditions for the installation of plants for the production of solar power. Italy is one of the countries with the largest production of solar energy and is in the vanguard also in the sector of research of technological innovations. 2007 was the year of the solar energy boom in our Country, a 500% increase was recorded in total installed power compared to 2006, and a further 429% increase was recorded between 2007 and 2008, with a total of installed power that increased from 78 to 418 MW. In 2010 in Italy there were 155,977 solar power plants, with an installed capacity of 3,470 MW. So between 2009 and 2010 the number of photovoltaic installations grew by 119%, while the installed capacity of 203%.
(Source: Solare fotovoltaico - Rapporto statistico 2010, GSE 2011)