Press release 2009

ZEROEMISSION ROME RECORD WITH OVER 25,000 VISITORS 80% OF ITALIANS POINTS TO SOLAR ENERGY AS PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE TO INVEST IN
Press release no. 154/09
(02/10/2009)

Great influx to the celebration of renewable energies, environmental sustainability, challenge to climate change and emissions trading, which closes the blinds today at the Fiera di Roma. The three-day event have confirmed the strong interest in the green economy, which is proposed as a driving force for economic recovery. A study by Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio shows that Italians are very favorable to renewable energy.

Rome, 2 October 2009 - Renewable energy is growing exponentially, attracting and increasing interest. This is revealed by the economic data in the industry, research and events like ZeroEmission Rome, which ends today at the Fiera di Roma with a budget record: 25,400 visitors (there were 18,000 last year), 400 exhibitors (compared to 300 in 2008) and an exhibition area of 30,000 square meters, with a growth of 30% over the previous edition.

As part of the festival, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, former environment minister and now president of the Foundation UniVerde, presented today the results of a survey done by IPR Marketing, which 80% of Italians points to solar in its various forms - photovoltaic, thermal and thermodynamic - as an energy source to be selected on a priority basis.

Research has also explored other aspects related to the perception of solar energy which Italians have: 90% thought it was safe, 95% is compatible with the environment, while 62% it’s still expensive. Furthermore, 54% took into account the solar energy in their energy choices, but the vast majority (61%) believe that there are too many bureaucratic obstacles for the installation. Critics, however, the knowledge of the incentives of the Energy Account. Only 33% of Italians knows about the incentives, while 67% doesn’t even know them. The percentage of people in favor of solar boosts once they are aware of the incentives. 83% of people informed, in fact, would vote in favor for the installation of solar systems in their building, using the incentives already available. The Italians’ incentives expectations when they are asked if they would increase them. 81% is, in fact, favorable to their growth, while only 11% think that they are already stimulated enough. "These data show that for Italians the energy account for photovoltaic should be maintained for the next few years, also to continue keep going the excellent results obtained by the activation of solar photovoltaic systems- said Pecoraro Scanio - For that reason, we presented a petition in which we ask the Minister of Economic Development to continue with the experience of the energy account".

During ZeroEmission Rome 2009 much interest has arouser in the 56 conference sessions, with the participation of 377 speakers. To the conference devoted to climate change has occurred today, among others, Edo Ronchi, former environment minister and now president of the Sustainable Development Foundation, who said: "If a thing is bad for the planet or the health of citizens, this must be regulated by strict rules which the Kyoto agreements are not. Copenhagen, therefore, must be a step forward, otherwise it will not help. We got to make cheaper things which are good and less desirable things that will cause harm, just like cigarettes, which are subject to a heavy disincentives. Renewable energies are positive, are good for the environment and also to the economy: this should be rewarded". Ronchi then observed that this way has now been undertaken by a U.S. decision and also China, which only a few years ago were stonewalling the international meetings on climate and environment. "The ?Obama Government? as put into study the definition 67 mandatory standards to be introduced in industry for reducing the climate impact, while the establishment of China, always still and overbearing, has peremptorily started a way of strong support for renewable. Even in Italy there is an incredible flourishing of businesses that rely on the development of renewable. Surprising, however, that our country is so lukewarm in supporting. "

At one of the congresses of ZeroEmission Rome 2009 was discussed concentration solar powe, among the new frontiers of renewable energy. "In Italy several research and development activities and many companies have already been involved into a project to create four concentration systems - explained Franco Roca Research Center ENEA from Portici -. In order to adequately develop the potential of this technology, however, it is essential to introduce at the earliest some mechanisms of incentive.

This morning during ZeroEmission Rome 2009 has been presented ANEST, the new National Association of Solar Thermodynamics Energy, an area with interesting possibilities for development. "In Italy, we are forefront in terms of technology - said the new president Cesare Fera - but we are la little behind compared to other countries like Spain, who have been aware of the importance and opportunities of this system of energy production from renewable sources by applying incentive policies to support the growth. We hope for Italy also to define a regulatory framework that supports this technology to create favorable conditions to develop industrial fields, which represents a real opportunity for employment and improved competitiveness of our Country. One priority for ANEST is to improve the knowledge of CSP technology of policy makers and prepare the Italian companies to the project DESERTEC, which foresee the development of Concentrating Solar Power, in the Mediterranean basin, with an investment of 400 billion euro in the coming years " .

The subjects discussed today ZeroEmission Rome 2009 also included Carbon Capture & Storage, the technology for carbon capture and storage of carbon dioxide that allows you to capture or separate the CO2 emitted, for example, from fossil fuels, coal and natural gas, then compress it and transport it by pipeline or tanks in underground geological repositories. "In Italy there are at least 300 sites suitable for collecting the carbon dioxide produced by large industrial plants or power plants and capture it so that it can’t be released back into the atmosphere - explains Fabio Di Felice, Department of Seismology and Physics of Tectonic 's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome -. These sites of geological interest are located at a depth of at least 800 meters, seismically safe and isolated from the surface layer clay. Can be tanks or natural cavities filled by seawater, oil, natural gas or coal deposits generally difficult to exploit or close to exhaustion, where the pumping of carbon dioxide, increasing the internal pressure, allows complete exploitation of the wells . The technologies for sequestration of CO2 are now proven and well known and are now beginning to be taken into account by companies, especially in view of possible environmental taxation to bear for the costs associated with the management of non-polluting emissions. "It is not an immediate scenario - continued Di Felice - but it would be important to achieve at least a pilot plant in Italy. Currently there are three in the world and they work very well. "

Further information on the event are available at www.zeroemission.eu on ZeroEmission TV, Web TV in real time where you can see the interviews at the fair.

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