photovoltaics pv parks in italy Highly symbolic location: where once a nuclear power plant was planned, today PV modules produce clean and sustainable energy. Photos (2): SMA Italia isBig beautiful In December 2009, one of the largest solar parks wants to re-introduce nuclear power in Italy in an att- empt to reduce energy costs, which are definitively in Italy was inaugurated in Montalto di Castro, the highest in all of Western Europe at the very least. The solar power plant project started in 2008, Tuscany. In early June 2010 an extension was while the installation work started in February 2009. announced: the project is now scheduled to grow The environmental benefits are impressive; the park will produce electricity for more than 13,000 Italian to 100 MW by the end of 2010. families, and there will be a cut of more than 22,000 tons of CO2, equivalent to planting more than two mil- hile the 24 MW PV park in Montalto di Cas- lion trees. tro today has a capacity to produce The added value of the project is represented by W40,000 MWh per year, its extension will the strong collaboration between two big players, make it a competitor to the SunEdison solar park namely SMA and Sunpower, which collaborated to (72 MW) near Rovigo, Veneto region, to become the put up the solar park and connect it to the grid, over- biggest solar park in Italy. The Montalto di Castro coming all the administrative and bureaucratic prob- plant is sited near a nuclear power plant, whose con- lems they faced due to the size of the project. struction was stopped and converted into a coal plant Valerio Natalizia, General Director of SMA Italy after a national referendum in 1987 which banished gave some technical details during a press event on nuclear power from Italy. After 23 years, despite the 3rd June. SMA decided to install 36 SMA Sunny Cen- national referendum, the Berlusconi Government now tral 630HE inverters: these power cabinets contain 150 Sun & Wind Energy 7/2010 Just a rare sight in picturesque Photo: Solarworld AG Tuscany? sphotovoltaicsolar thermal pv parks in italy the inverters, voltage transformers and monitoring project developer based in Rome and focused on util- systems necessary for direct infeed into the medium- ity-scale projects in Southern European countries, us- voltage grid. These units reach high levels of constant ing a community-based development model to en- efficiency, up to 98.6 %. In addition, SMA has sup- sure that its plants are adapted to local community plied a data management system, the Sunny Web- needs. The project financing – € 120,000,000 – was Box, a communication switchboard able to enhance one of the largest PV project finance deals closed in all the data provided by the inverters, informing con- Europe in 2009. The borrower was Cassiopea PV stantly on the PV plant’s performance. S.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Ray Italy Furthermore, SMA will be responsible for a Holding S.r.l., and the lending banks were Banca In- planned maintenance programme, which envisages, frastrutture Innovazione e Sviluppo, Société Générale for example, having cabinet air filters cleaned period- and WestLB AG. SunRay is the owner of the project ically in order to maintain the best temperature and and selected SunPower to design and construct the to guarantee the highest inverter efficiency. power plant and provide on-going operation and SunPower provided the tracker technology at the maintenance services. site. The trackers follow the sun during the day and “The Montalto di Castro project is an important result in the generation of up to 25 % more power milestone for our industry, confirming that solar pow- than fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing er plants are financeable today when you combine a land use requirements; in fact great attention has world-class developer with an industry-leader offer- been paid to local communities’ requests, in order to ing technology and unparalleled experience in solar minimize any impact on the land. The site will have a power design and construction,” said SunPower Eu- fully equipped visitor centre focusing on the educa- ropean Sales Director, Mario Riello. “We are very tion of the local community and school children about pleased to partner with SunRay to deliver clean, reli- renewable energy. able solar power to the community and to the rapidly It is interesting in a solar park of this size that a expanding Italian market.” great deal of attention is being paid to informing lo- Cristina Barbero cal communities; the info centre is a useful tool to spread a culture about sustainable energy and sus- tainable communities. And, after all, it’s a clear mes- sage that solar parks can provide a culturally proac- tive role, not only an economic and financial one. Financing partners The 80 hectare Montalto di Castro solar project was developed by SunRay Renewable Energy, an Italian 152 Sun & Wind Energy 7/2010 Special Edition Italy Not at all! Photo: Conergy Italy goes PV. Time to get on board. Special Edition Italy Italy‘s PV market Total circulation: 40,000 just keeps growing. Make use Italian circulation: 15,000 of this excellent opportunity! Advertising deadline: October 8th 2010 potentials and current market facts Publishing date: political background information November 2nd 2010 and eligibility criteria Contact: Yvonne Müller advertorials (company and Phone: +49/521/595-575 product profiles) [email protected].