Press release 2009

GREAT AFFLUENCE OF VISITORS AT ZEROEMISSION ROME THE BOOM OF PHOVOLTAICS IS CONTINUING BY 2010 1,500 MW OF INSTALLED POWER AND 100,000 PLANTS FORESEEN
Press release no. 154/09
(01/10/2009)

This is the second day of ZeroEmission Rome 2009, the international event dedicated to renewable energies, environmental sustainability, the fight against climate change and emission trading, which, today, had 9,800 registered visitors. Tomorrow at ZeroEmission Rome, ANEST, the New Italian Association for Concentrating Solar Power, will be present and, during the conference programme, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio and Edo Ronchi, both previous ministers of the Environment, as well as poet and songwriter Giulio Mogol, among others, will also participate.

Rome, 1 October 2009 - The growth in renewable energies in Italy, and, in particular, in the photovoltaic sector, is continuing to move fast. This situation was explained by Luciano Barra, from the energy management of the Economic Development Ministry, during a conference held today at ZeroEmission Rome 2009, the event dedicated to renewable energies, taking place at the Rome Fair Centre until tomorrow. "The doubts and fears regarding the continuation of the Energy Account for photovoltaics have been overcome, also because, at the end of 2010 we will have 1.2 GW of installed power following the policies already in force. We would like to create a manufacturing chain developing our national component production capacity. We have a strategy for the development of renewables that foresees, for example, incentives for thermo-dynamic solar energy and we are considering the possibility of doing the same for concentrating solar energy too. Moreover, the outline of the new Energy Account is now ready and we are presently discussing it with the Environment Ministry and with the Unified Conference of State and Regions."

The growth of photovoltaics is also confirmed by the GSE (Electrical Services Management) as stated by Costantino Lato, head of the Engineering Unit: "By 2009 we will have reached 900 MW of installed power, for a total of 70,000 plants, and by the end of 2010 the estimate is for 1,500 MW of installed power and 100,000 plants. Most of the more than 54,000 photovoltaic plants installed up to now are small and are for residential use. This is, therefore, the best way to obtain generated distribution in Italy: create small and flexible energy production centres near areas of consumption."

During ZeroEmission Rome 2009 the study entitled The Italian photovoltaic market, carried out by the Energy & Strategy Group of the Milan Polytechnic for Assosolare was also discussed. From the report, we can see that, in 2020, the photovoltaic market could potentially reach and go beyond the 50 GW level. "In the next few years, we must consider the economic importance of the incentives that will lead photovoltaics towards grid parity," said Gianni Chianetta, president of Assosolare. "From that moment on, having a solar energy plant will become convenient even without governmental help. This will be possible only if we can count on a tariff that lowers the costs of the plants proportionally."

Gert Gremes, president of GIFI (Gruppo Imprese Fotovoltaiche Italiane - Italian Photovoltaic Business Group) took part in ZeroEmission Rome 2009 to discuss the proposals of his association for the Energy Account after 2010: "In our opinion, incentives for photovoltaics must follow five power classes and only two types of installation: land-based and on buildings. The reduction of the present tariff should range between 5 and 20%, compared to that at present, for both types, and this will ensure a good payback on investments."

Today at ZeroEmission Rome 2009 the reduction of CO2 emissions and climate changes were also discussed. The British Ambassador Edward Chaplin brought the virtuous example of his country: "I have often read in Italian newspapers that according to some, the reduction of polluting emissions can not go at the same speed as economic development. This is not true and the recent situation of Great Britain is the proof. Since 1990 until now, our economy has, in fact, grown by 48%, while emissions have decreased by 20%". There are many examples of virtuous British companies that have undertaken the low carbon lifestyle - that is with low emissions of CO2 - with success. The chain of department stores Marks & Spencer plans to completely eliminate its polluting emissions as of 2012 and has inaugurated new shops with energy consumption less than 55% compared to traditional shops. The National Trust, which takes care of the management of hundreds of historical buildings throughout the country, has given considerable impulse to the use of renewable energies and micro-generation, with savings of Euro 500,000 on annual running costs. We now intend to bring more virtuous British companies in the reduction of polluting emissions to Italy, and Italian operators will be able to meet them in Milan, at the end of November, during Greenergy Expo."

The development of renewable energies requires an ever more global approach, as confirmed by Hèlène Pelosse, the new managing director of IRENA, l’Agenzia Internazionale per l’Energia Rinnovabile - the International Agency for Renewable Energy, founded at the beginning of this year. "IRENA will, above all, deal with the development of renewable energies in developing countries," she explained. "On the occasion of the meetings that we have already held in these days, we have analyzed the situation of renewables in Italy, finding the incentive model particularly interesting."

Tomorrow ZeroEmission Rome 2009 will propose further important opportunities of debate and comparison regarding the future of energy in our country. Among the conference sessions scheduled, Climate changes and the attention of the mass media: truth, catastrophism, planning (Hall 8 - Room 8A, 10.30) during which Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio (president of the UniVerde Foundation) and Edo Ronchi (president of the Foundation for Sustainable Development) both previously ministers of the environment, will take part. In the same room, starting from 14.30, Virtuous politics friends of the climate, will take place, a session which will see the participation of Fabio De Lillo (assessor of the Environment of Rome Municipality), Filippo Zaratti (assessor of the Environment and Cooperation among the Inhabitants of the Lazio Region); Giulio Mogol (poet and songwriter), Mauro Villarini (head of renewable energy projects of the Vatican City).

Tomorrow at ZeroEmission Rome 2009 ANEST, the New Italian Association for Concentrating Solar Power will also be present (Room 4B, Hall 4, ore 11).

Further information on the event can be found at www.zeroemission.eu and on ZeroEmission TV, the live Web TV where interviews carried out during the fair are also available.

For further information: Press Office ZeroEmission Rome - Rosella Sola (cell. 348.2897926) Davide Grassi (cell.348.2829775) - e-mail: press@zeroemission.eu