Solar power in Italy

Solar power in Italy has increased rapidly in recent years with the country ranking among the world’s largest producers of electricity from solar power. Solar power accounted for 7% of the electricity generated in Italy during 2013 (ranked 1st in the world), a share that's expected to double by 2030.

As of April 2016 Italy had the worlds fifth largest installed solar PV capacity (behind 1. China 2. Germany. 3. Japan 4. USA and ahead of the 6. UK.) The years 2009-2013 saw a boom in installed photovoltaic nameplate capacity, increasing nearly 15-fold, and 2013's year-end capacity of 17,928 MW ranked third in the world, ahead of the United States at that time. This was partly due to the generous solar PV power generation incentives offered under the Conto Energia schemes (see below).

As of December 2013, the installed capacity is approaching 18 GW, with a production so important that several gas turbine power plants currently operate at half their potential during the day. The sector provides employment to about 100,000 people, especially in design and installation.

The Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station is the largest photovoltaic power station in Italy, in Montalto di Castro in Viterbo province. The project was built in several phases. The first phase with a total capacity of 24 MW was connected in late 2009. The second phase (8 MW) was commissioned in 2010, and the third and fourth phases, totaling 44 MW, were completed in December 2010, bringing the total to 85 MW.

As of the end of 2010, there were 155,977 solar PV plants, with a total capacity of 3,469.9 MW. At the end of 2011, there were 330,196 installations, totaling 12,773 MW. The number of plants and the total capacity surged between 2009 and 2011 following high incentives from Conto Energia. The total power capacity installed tripled and plants installed doubled in 2010 compared to 2009, with an increase of plant's average dimensions. The increase was even greater in 2011.

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