Preliminary figures from Italian government agency GSE for solar module installations in Italy for 2009 indicate that the surge late in 2008 was not replicated in 2009. PV installations reached 374MW in 2009, up only 10% from 2008 when 338MW was installed and connected to the grid. The Italian market had often been touted as becoming a major market in 2009, due to the attractive FiT and high cost of electricity in the country, enabling solar to reach grid-parity earlier than in most other European countries.
Installations actually peaked in July 2009 at 40MW, only recovering to that level in October, before falling in November. In December, installations only reached 37MW, significantly below the 136MW installed in the same month of 2008.
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A problem that some PV manufacturers and project developers had previously noted with the Italian market was bureaucratic delays in obtaining grid connection.
The EPIA had projected installations in Italy to reach 500MW on a ‘policy driven’ scenario and 400MW in a ‘moderate scenario.’ Photon Consulting had projected much more aggressive levels. In its ‘Solar Annual 2009’ report issued late last year, the market research firm projected installation to reach 900MW.
