As of 2023, Italy’s total installed solar power capacity is 30.28 Gigawatts (GW).²

Italy aims to increase its solar panel capacity to about 40 GW by the end of 2024 as part of its renewable energy goals.⁵

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Coal: The LCOE for coal-fired power plants in Italy is approximately USD 0.10 to USD 0.12 per kWh. Coal remains relatively expensive compared to renewable sources due to fuel costs and carbon emissions.

Natural Gas: The LCOE for natural gas-fired power plants ranges from USD 0.06 to USD 0.08 per kWh. This cost can vary significantly depending on the prices of natural gas and carbon emissions costs.

Hydropower: The LCOE for hydropower in Italy is around USD 0.05 to USD 0.06 per kWh. Hydropower is one of the most cost-effective renewable energy sources, benefiting from Italy’s favorable geographical conditions.

Solar Power: The LCOE for utility-scale solar PV projects in Italy is about USD 0.049 per kWh. The cost has been decreasing over the years due to advancements in technology and increased installations.

Wind Power: The LCOE for onshore wind projects is approximately USD 0.033 per kWh. Offshore wind projects have a higher LCOE, around USD 0.081 per kWh, but are still competitive compared to fossil fuels.

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Solar: 8%

Natural Gas: 43%

Thermal (Oil): 32%

Hydro: 15%

Thermal (Coal): 5%

Wind: 7%

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Urban Areas: Electricity is available 23-24 hours per day, with no interruption.

Rural Areas: Availability approximately 21-22 hours per day, with more frequent outages compared to urban areas.

As of 2024, Italy has approximately 1,221,045 residential solar panel installations.⁹

Installed Solar Farms: As of 2024, there are approximately 1000 operational solar farms in Italy at a capacity of 30.28 GW.¹⁰

Projected Solar Farms: Additional 50 GW to be added in solar farms to bring total capacity to approximately to 80 GW by 2030.¹¹

¹²

Current Demand: Installed capacity is 9.13 GW as of 2024

Projected Demand: Projected to add 13.12 GW by 2029

¹³

Current Demand: As of 2023, Italy has an installed solar PV capacity of approximately 30.28 GW.

Projected Demand: By 2029, Italy aims to reach a total solar PV capacity of approximately 70 GW.

¹⁴¹⁵

Electrical & Power Engineering: $2,745.71 per Month

Construction & Real Estate: $2,548.42 per Month

Mechanical Engineering: $2,511.36 per Month

Production: $2,356.58 per Month

Customer Support: $2,322.79 per Month

Agriculture, Food Industry: $2,183.27 per Month

Administration: $2,272.65 per Month

General Labor: $1,648.08 per Month

As of 2024, the population of Italy is approximately 58,695,495 people.¹⁶

Overhead costs in solar panel production typically include several components which are ¹³¹⁷¹⁸

Factory Rent in Italy:

• The average rent for warehouse spaces in Italy varies significantly based on location and facilities.
• High: $10.90 per square meter per month. Low: $5.45 per square meter per month

Industrial Electricity Rates:

• The industrial electricity rate in Italy is approximately $0.1962 per kWh.

Water Costs:

• The cost of water for industrial use in Italy is around $2.18 per cubic meter (m³).

Salaries and Wages

• The average annual salary for a Solar Photovoltaic Installer in Italy is around:
• High: $38,150; Low: $27,250

Office Supplies and Equipment:

• The cost for office supplies such as stationery in Italy ranges from:
• High: $21.80 per item; Low: $2.18 per item

Rent for Office Space:

• The rent for office spaces in cities like Milan and Rome ranges from:
• High: $32.70 per square meter per month; Low: $16.35 per square meter per month

Insurance:

• The average spending per capita in the property insurance market in Italy is estimated to be around $5.45 in 2024. Essential for the business’s operation but are not directly tied to the production of goods.

¹⁹²⁰²¹

Total Installed Capacity:

• Italy’s total installed capacity is approximately 120.2 GW as of 2023. This includes contributions from various sources such as natural gas, oil, coal, hydro, and renewable energy.

Electricity Generation:

• In 2023, Italy’s total electricity generation reached around 282 TWh. The generation mix includes significant contributions from natural gas (around 42%), renewables (around 37%), and other sources such as coal and oil.

Electricity Consumption:

• The total electricity consumption in Italy for 2023 was projected to be approximately 278 TWh, reflecting stable demand patterns with a slight increase expected in subsequent years.

Grid Infrastructure:

• The Italian transmission grid is managed by Terna, which oversees the high-voltage transmission network. The distribution is handled by multiple regional companies. The grid infrastructure is robust, with high connectivity rates across the country, ensuring reliable electricity access.

Clean Energy Transition:

• Italy is committed to increasing the share of renewable energy in its national energy mix. The country aims to reach a renewable energy capacity of 70 GW by 2030, with significant contributions from solar and wind power. This transition is part of Italy’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Investment in Renewable Energy:

• Significant investments are being made to boost renewable energy capacity. The government has implemented policies such as feed-in tariffs, subsidies, and grants to encourage private sector participation and attract foreign investments in renewable energy projects. These initiatives are aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewables and enhancing energy security.

²²²³

Ban on Large-Scale Solar Plants on Agricultural Land:

• The Italian government issued a decree known as the “Decreto Rinnovabili,” which prohibits the installation of large-scale solar plants on productive agricultural land to preserve agricultural use and prevent land degradation.

Reduction of Buffer Zones for Photovoltaic Plants:

• The PNRR ter Decree reduces the buffer zones around assets subject to landscape protection from 1 km to 500 meters for photovoltaic plants. This change aims to facilitate the installation of solar plants in more areas while still protecting significant landscapes.

Single Authorisation Procedure for Renewable Plants:

• The PNRR ter Decree amends the Single Authorisation procedure required for the construction and operation of renewable energy plants. The updated procedure now includes environmental assessments where necessary, and sets specific deadlines for the issuance of authorisations.

Energy Storage Systems:

• The Italian government has introduced regulations promoting the integration of energy storage systems through the “Piano Nazionale Integrato per l’Energia e il Clima” (PNIEC). This includes incentives for the installation of battery storage systems to support renewable energy integration and enhance grid stability.

National Investment in Solar Panel Production:

• The Italian government announced a €90 million ($97 million USD) investment in Enel’s 3Sun solar photovoltaic panel factory in Sicily. This investment is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and aims to increase the factory’s annual production capacity from 200 MW to 3 GW by the end of 2024, creating 700 new jobs.²⁴

EU-Supported Initiatives:

• The European Commission approved a €5.7 billion ($6.24 billion USD) scheme for the development of renewable energy communities in Italy. This scheme is divided into two funding streams: A €3.5 billion stream provides a 20-year tariff on electricity consumed by self-consumers and renewable energy communities. A €2.2 billion stream offers investment grants covering up to 40% of project costs for renewable energy projects in municipalities with populations under 5,000.²⁵

TANGO Project:

• Enel Green Power (EGP) has signed a grant agreement with the EU under the Innovation Fund to build an industrial-scale bifacial photovoltaic (PV) module production facility, named the TANGO project. This project aims to enhance the EU’s renewable energy capacity and reduce energy dependency, promoting a circular economy and sustainable European supply chain​.²⁶

²⁷²⁸²⁹

Installed Projects

Montalto di Castro Solar Park

• Location: Lazio, Italy
• Capacity: 85 MW
• Detail: This solar park is one of the largest in Italy, providing significant renewable energy to the Lazio region.

Serra del Vento Solar Plant

• Location: Sicily, Italy
• Capacity: 33 MW
• Detail: Located in sunny Sicily, this plant contributes a considerable amount of solar energy to the island’s grid.

Ginosa Solar Park

• Location: Apulia, Italy
• Capacity: 24 MW
• Detail: Situated in Apulia, this solar park helps boost the region’s renewable energy portfolio significantly.

Projected Projects

TANGO Project (3Sun)

• Location: Catania, Sicily
• Capacity: 3 GW
• Detail: This ambitious project aims to expand the 3Sun solar panel factory’s production capacity by 2024, making it one of the largest solar manufacturing hubs in Europe.

GreenIT and Galileo Solar PV Project

• Location: Italy (exact location TBD)
• Capacity: 140 MW
• Detail: This joint venture between GreenIT and Galileo aims to develop a large-scale solar PV project, marking a significant step in Italy’s renewable energy expansion.

Elawan Energy Projects

• Location: Various locations in Italy
• Capacity: 2 GW
• Detail: Spanish renewables firm Elawan Energy plans to develop multiple solar PV projects across Italy, significantly boosting the country’s solar capacity.

Enel Green Power

• Detail: A leading renewable energy company that develops and operates solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power plants across the globe, with significant projects in Italy, such as the 3Sun solar panel factory expansion in Sicily.³⁰

Falck Renewables

• Detail: Specializes in the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants, including solar and wind farms, with a strong presence in Italy and several European countries.³¹

TerniEnergia

• Detail: Engages in the design, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems, offering solutions for both utility-scale and commercial solar power projects in Italy and abroad.³²

ERG Renew

• Detail: A major player in the renewable energy sector, focusing on wind and solar power, ERG Renew operates several solar farms in Italy and aims to expand its green energy footprint further.³³

FuturaSun

• Detail: An Italian company that manufactures high-efficiency photovoltaic modules, with a strong emphasis on innovation and quality, catering to both domestic and international markets.³⁴