The OPDE Group, which includes the companies OPDE, MECASOLAR, PROINSO and RIOS, will sign an agreement with the regional government of Piedmont (Italy) on Friday 8th October for the construction of 17 solar facilities, generating together a total of 75MW.
The construction of these 17 solar facilities will begin by the end of 2009 and end some time in 2010. The agreement will also involve the start up of the operation and the maintenance centre of RIOS PV systems and the assembly of MECASOLAR trackers and structures; as well as the creation of a Logistics and Research Centre for solar PV energy in the region.
The project will involve three phases spanning from October 2009 to December 2010 reflecting the OPDE’s presence in the Italian region. Through this deal, the OPDE Group is expected to create 125 new direct jobs, from a total of 375 that will come from the ambitious solar PV project. The new Centre in Turin will be the base for OPDE Group expansion into the markets in France, Germany, Austria and the Eastern European countries.
The construction and start up of the facilities will be located in the provinces of Cuneo, Asti and Alessandria, and will take place in the period between October 2009 and December 2010.
The first stage of development, planned to be completed in early 2010, provides the implementation of seven solar photovoltaic farms that will obtain 31MW of installed capacity. These plants will be located at:
- CN11c: Fossano (Cuneo) with 5.6MWp
- CN10: Ceva Lesegno (Cuneo) with 7.3MWp
- AT01: Bubbio (Asti) with 5.3MWp
- AL03: Quattordio (Alessandria) with 1.9MWp
- AL04a: Casale Monferrato (Alessandria) with 1.9MWp
- AL04b: Rosignano Monferrato (Alessandria) with 5.0MWp
- AL07a: Quargnento (Alessandria) with 4.0MWp
TOTAL 2009: 31MW representing a total investment of €150 Mill
The second phase of the project will take place during 2010 with the construction of a further ten solar power plants with an installed capacity of 45MW, representing a total investment in this second phase of €170 million in the region. The third phase will focus on collaboration with technology centres and universities to launch a Centre for Research on Photovoltaic Solar Energy.
